Learn About The Types Of Falcons And What Distinguishes Each Of Them

Hawks are a group of small to medium-sized birds of prey that depend on small birds and other animals for their food.

Types of falcons and their characteristics

Falcons are classified into many types, including:

Red-tailed hawk

The most important feature of this type of hawk is the short, broad tail with a distinctive red color, pale below and dark above, with a striped belly and feathers that are often brown in color. Its length ranges between 45-65 cm, its weight ranges between 700-1600 grams, and its wingspan is as wide as 110-140 cm. The red-tailed hawk is distinguished by its high ability to adapt to high wind speeds, as it hovers in wide circles without moving its wings. It has a strong, fixed gaze on the ground to capture prey. It attacks in a gradual, controlled manner. It is found in most places and environments. It varies in color with different areas of residence and residence. For example, the red-tailed hawk spotted in Texas is dark on top without a belly band, while Western hawks tend to have a belly band and a pale color at the top of the body.

The sharp-shinned hawk

It is distinguished by its rapid movement and acrobatic abilities, as it relies on small-sized songbirds for its food, as it hides and waits for them patiently until the appropriate moment arrives for it to launch itself at high speed, to kill them. This type of hawk can be identified by noticing orange lines in the chest area that fade towards The abdomen, in addition to the wings and back, are distinguished by a wonderful blue-gray color in adult falcons, while in immature falcons of this type, the wings and back are brown. The sharp-shinned falcon is found with a length of 24-34 cm, and a weight ranging between 87-218 grams. With short, round wings ranging in width from 43-56 cm, and a relatively long tail, this type of hawk is found in deep forests.

Cooper hawk

It is very similar to the sharp-shinned hawk in terms of the orange or red color on the chest, and the distinctive blue-gray color of the wings and back that appears in adult individuals of Cooper’s hawks, while immature hawks of this type appear brown on the top, and stripes on the chest. It is rare. These hawks flutter continuously and pounce on their prey with a quick movement at low altitudes. This hawk feeds mainly on songbirds. Cooper hawks are 37-45 cm long, with a weight ranging from 220-680 grams, and their wings are 62-90 cm long. It has a very long, rounded tail, a large head, and broad shoulders, and is found in forests, as well as among human populations.

Northern Falcon

It is considered one of the largest and heaviest types of falcons. It cannot be seen commonly in inhabited residential locations, as this type of falcon prefers to live in remote forests. It is characterized by wide, rounded wings, long tails, and dark gray feathers in the upper part of the body, and light gray in the upper part of the body. The lower part of the body, with a dark-colored head, with a wide white stripe in the middle over the eyes, and orange to red eyes. It is a hidden predatory bird that closely monitors the prey and pounces on it at the appropriate moment. The length of the northern hawk reaches 53-64 cm, and its weight It ranges from 631-1364 g, with a wingspan ranging from 103-117 cm.

Red-shouldered hawk

A medium-sized hawk characterized by dark and light-white square wings, red shoulders, and a tail with a strong, wide band, black with narrow white stripes. Unlike red-tailed hawks that live in populated areas, red-shouldered hawks prefer to live in remote forests with wide areas; These spaces help it see prey and seize it easily and quickly, as this type of falcon pounces on its prey directly from above, and this method is considered distinctive among its fellow falcons. This type of falcon feeds on squirrels, snakes, lizards, and amphibians if they are available. The length of the red-shouldered hawk ranges between 43-61 cm, its weight reaches 486-774 grams, and its wingspan ranges between 94-111 cm.

Broad-winged hawk

Small, short, plump hawks. They are rarely seen in populated areas, where they prefer to live far away in the forests. They have reddish-brown heads and wide white and black bands on the tail. These hawks feed on small animals, which they hunt from their burrows, eat them, and migrate in In large groups, they fly at high altitudes. These hawks are found with a size ranging from 34-44 cm, a weight ranging from 265-560 grams, and a wingspan of 81-100 cm.