Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus · Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks
The Broad-winged Hawk is a compact, crow-sized raptor known for its spectacular mass migrations. While often inconspicuous during the breeding season within dense forests, it becomes highly visible in the fall as thousands gather in swirling flocks called "kettles" for their journey south. This species is a long-distance migrant, traveling to Central and South America for the winter.
Explore the full field guidemigratory, medium-sized, whistforest dweller, communal roostlong-distance migrant, soaringsecretive breeder, conspicuous
6 calls·first heard Jul 2·last 16d ago
When it's heardpeak 5a · fall
5a12p9p
How to know it
- Adults have a reddish-brown head, brown back and wings, and a barred rufous chest. The tail has broad black and white bands.
- Juveniles are lighter brown with coarser streaking on the breast and a narrowly banded tail.
- In flight, the underwings are pale or whitish with dark tips and a dark trailing edge.
- A rare dark morph occurs, primarily in the western part of its range, appearing entirely sooty brown with a banded tail.