When exploring Oklahoma’s diverse avian population, one cannot overlook the remarkable presence of various hawk species.
These majestic types of hawks in Oklahoma captivate the imagination with their soaring flights, keen hunting abilities, and striking appearances.
From the smallest acrobatic Hawk to the largest hawk, Oklahoma offers a rich habitat for a wide range of these impressive birds.
Whether you’re a passionate birdwatcher, a nature enthusiast, or simply someone intrigued by the beauty of these aerial predators, Oklahoma provides ample opportunities to observe and appreciate different types of hawks.
Each species brings its unique characteristics from its secretive and elusive nature.
By delving into the world of these types of hawks in Oklahoma, one can better understand the intricate balance of nature within Oklahoma’s diverse landscapes.
So, let us embark on a journey through the skies, where an extraordinary variety of types of hawks in Oklahoma await discovery and promise wonderful experiences.
1. Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned hawks are the first on our list of the types of hawks in Oklahoma.
They display remarkable acrobatic and athletic abilities. From September to May, you may observe these raptors swiftly darting past bird feeders or through the woods.
If you spot one perched motionless, watch for orange bars stretching across its upper chest, gradually fading into its stomach.
Their wings and back exhibit a blue-gray hue. They flaunt rounded, short wings and a lengthy tail during the flight.
Female hawks in Oklahoma are notably larger than their male counterparts.
They congregate near bird feeders as they prey on songbirds that make pit stops for a quick bite.
This species employs an ambush strategy, patiently lurking undercover before swiftly pouncing on smaller birds, which make up 90% of its diet.
2. Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s hawk is also a type of hawk in Oklahoma. Thanks to their impressive flying skills, Cooper’s Hawks actively pursue songbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Mourning Doves, and European Starlings. They are frequently found near bird feeders or in forests where these birds gather.
Sporting a sleek blue-gray plumage, a small black cap, and a chest adorned with a rufous hue, Cooper’s Hawks closely resemble the Sharp-shinned Hawk in appearance and behavior, often confusing the two species.
However, the key distinguishing feature is their size, as Cooper’s Hawks are larger than Sharp-shinned Hawks. You can observe Cooper’s Hawks year-round in these two habitats.
3. Northern Goshawk
While not commonly observed in Oklahoma, winter presents the best opportunity to glimpse a Northern Goshawk.
These birds are shrouded in secrecy, making them challenging to spot due to their camouflage plumage and their preference for inhabiting vast forests away from urban areas.
The Northern Goshawk showcases a dark head adorned with striking red eyes.
Its belly varies from bluish-white to light gray, displaying distinctive barring.
The upper body exhibits shades of brown or blue-gray and unique markings.
Although they can be found throughout the state, locating them within cities and suburbs is difficult.
The Northern Goshawk’s diet is versatile. It consumes a range of prey, including reptiles, birds, mammals, and insects.
Exercise caution and avoid approaching their nests too closely, as they will fiercely defend their territory and may attack if provoked.
4. Common Black Hawk
This is the next on our list of types of hawks in Oklahoma.
It is infrequently seen in Oklahoma, and you have the greatest chance of spotting a Common Black Hawk between May and August.
Look for them in wooded areas near water sources where they can find an abundance of small mammals to prey upon.
As their name suggests, these types of hawks in Oklahoma display entirely black plumage.
They possess broad wings and short tails adorned with a conspicuous white band.
The flight feathers appear lighter, allowing you to notice the long yellow base of their bill and legs.
Juvenile Common Black Hawks exhibit streaky brown feathers, pale eyebrows, and a dark mustache-like marking.
5. Harris’s Hawk
Regarding the best chances of spotting a Harris’s Hawk in Oklahoma, keep an eye out between October and March. Look for them in brush, river woods, and open dry regions. Unlike many other birds of prey, these types of hawks in Oklahoma are quite sociable and often appear in groups of three or more.
Harris’s Hawks are skilled hunters, employing a swift dash to pursue their prey through dense foliage. They feed on various creatures, including birds, lizards, and small mammals like squirrels, rats, and rabbits. To identify them, look for their yellow upper bill that transitions quickly to gray and brown wings accentuated by orange highlights. They have a brown head and a distinct black and white tail.
6. Red-shouldered Hawk
They have unique features. A chest adorned with rufous bars, a prominently banded tail, white underwings, and red shoulders. It perfectly matches its name. Locate these predators primarily in forests with spacious clearings and open canopies for optimal hunting opportunities.
Interestingly, Red-shouldered Hawks can also be spotted year-round in suburban areas where woodlands intermingle with residential homes. When it comes to their diet, these hawks relish small mammals like squirrels, but they also consume lizards, snakes, and amphibians whenever they are available.
7. Broad-winged Hawk
This is the next on our list of types of hawks in Oklahoma. The short and sturdy build of the Broad-winged Hawk is well-suited for life in the forest. However, you can only observe them in Oklahoma from April to October. While this hawk is relatively common, it proves challenging to spot due to its preference for secluded areas away from the human presence within the forest.
During the summer months, these hawks in Oklahoma reside in the United States and Canada but migrate to Central and South America for the winter season. Notably, the Broad-winged Hawk is renowned for its impressive migratory journeys, spanning vast distances of up to 4,000 miles one-way.
As perch and pounce hunters, these hawks exhibit a distinctive hunting style. They perch atop tree limbs, carefully surveying the surroundings, and swiftly dive down to capture prey such as toads, frogs, and other small mammals.
8. Swainson’s Hawk
You can spot Swainson’s Hawks perched on trees in open areas and on telephone poles and fence posts. Alternatively, they can be seen soaring through the skies between the months of April and October.
During this time, they dedicate their summers to raising their young and breeding in Oklahoma before embarking on an extensive migration to Argentina, which spans approximately 6,000 miles and takes two months to complete.
These hawks in Oklahoma often fly together in groups called kettles alongside other large migratory birds. You can identify them by their light underbellies, as well as their brown and gray feathers. They have reddish-brown chests, long wings, and short tails.
Regarding their diet, at the start of summer, Swainson’s Hawks primarily feed on mammals and small reptiles. However, their meals consist mainly of large insects throughout the other seasons.
9. Zone-tailed Hawk
The Zone-tailed Hawk is also one of the types of hawks in Oklahoma, which possesses a slender build characterized by a long tail and sleek wings. Its size falls between a goose and a crow, although smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk. You can easily recognize this hawk by its black and white barred undersides, grayish-black coloration, and distinctive two-toned flight feathers resembling a turkey vulture.
In pursuit of prey, the Zone-tailed Hawk adopts a deliberate and slow movement, flying at low altitudes across treetops. It patiently awaits the opportunity to swoop down on its target from relatively low heights. You can witness these hunting behaviors between May and September in various terrains such as foothills, pine forests, cliffs, and areas with uneven landscapes. As for their diet, these hawks primarily feed on small ground-dwelling animals, including squirrels, mice, rats, and voles.
10. Red-tailed Hawk
They are larger raptors more commonly observed during countryside drives than in urban areas or suburbs. To identify them, look for their plumage that ranges from white to black. But their most distinctive feature is their red tail.
Red-tailed Hawks demonstrate remarkable adaptability and thrive in various environments, including pastures, scrublands, fields, woodlands, deserts, parks, and roadsides. Regarding their dining preferences, the species predominantly hunt rabbits, squirrels, rats, voles, and mice. However, they occasionally indulge in carrion, snakes, and larger birds.
11. Rough-legged Hawk
During their summer months, Rough-legged Hawks engage in mating and reside in the Arctic tundra. However, they migrate southward to Oklahoma for the winter season, typically between October and April.
Let me tell you to identify these types of hawks in Oklahoma; look for their large and sturdy build, featuring a distinct pattern of brown and white plumage. They have a white head, black eyes, a small curved yellow bill, and a pale tail. Notably, Rough-legged Hawks possess feather-covered feet that provide insulation in the frigid Arctic environment.
The hawks employ a unique hunting technique, hovering in the wind while actively searching for prey. In the Arctic, their preferred targets are lemmings, while in Oklahoma, they primarily focus on hunting small rodents such as shrews, voles, and mice.
12. Ferruginous Hawk
Ferruginous hawks are ending our list of types of hawks in Oklahoma. You can find these magnificent birds residing in open areas of Oklahoma throughout the year, but the optimal time to observe them is during the fall and winter seasons. Known as the largest hawk in North America, the Ferruginous Hawk exhibits distinctive characteristics such as a wide tail in shades of gray, white, or rusty.
It also possesses long, broad wings, pale underparts, and a rusty brown back, representing the light morph. Alternatively, the dark morph showcases a chestnut hue on the belly, chest, and back.
During the winter, this sociable hawk seeks roosting spots on various structures, including trees, rock outcrops, man-made structures, power poles, ledges, and haystacks. As for their diet, they primarily feed on small mammals. Interestingly, when hunting, they utilize a hopping or running technique on the ground to chase down their prey.
Conclusion
Oklahoma is home to a diverse array of hawk species, each with its own unique characteristics and behaviors. From the acrobatic and athletic Sharp-shinned Hawk to the sociable Harris’s Hawk and others listed above in our blog, these types of hawks in Oklahoma bring beauty and predatory prowess to the state’s ecosystems.
Just be at rest because, throughout the year, bird enthusiasts and nature lovers have the opportunity to spot different types of hawks in Oklahoma. Whether it’s the elusive Northern Goshawk in the winter, the migratory Swainson’s Hawk in the spring, or the year-round residents like the Red-tailed Hawk and Ferruginous Hawk, there is always something fascinating to discover.
Observing their aerial displays, identifying their distinctive plumage, and learning about their hunting habits add to the wonder of Oklahoma’s avian diversity. So, keep your eyes on the skies and enjoy exploring the natural landscapes to witness the majesty of these remarkable types of hawks in Oklahoma State.
