16 Hawks in Texas (With ID Guide)

Texas is a great place to spot hawks. From the well-known Red-tailed Hawk flying over highways to the rare Crane Hawk found near the southern border, there’s a wide range of raptors here. Thanks to open skies, different habitats, and seasonal migrations, hawks can be seen across the state. Whether you’re watching from a city park or a country road, this guide covers 16 hawk species in Texas with ID tips, sizes, wingspans, and more.

1. Harris’s Hawk

The Harris’s Hawk is one of the few raptor species that hunt cooperatively in groups, making them unique among hawks. These birds are mostly found in South Texas deserts, perched on fence posts or cactus tops. They have striking dark plumage with chestnut shoulders and white at the base of the tail. Often seen in small family units, they exhibit social behavior uncommon in other raptors.

• Scientific Name: Parabuteo unicinctus
• Lifespan: 10–15 years
• Size: 18–24 inches
• Weight: 1.2–2.5 lbs
• Wingspan: 40–47 inches

2. Red-tailed Hawk

The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most familiar and widespread raptors across Texas. Recognized by its reddish tail and broad wings, this hawk is a year-round resident commonly seen perched along highways. Its loud, raspy scream is iconic in movies. These adaptable predators thrive in varied habitats—from woodlands to deserts—and are often spotted soaring in circles overhead, especially during midday thermals.

• Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
• Lifespan: Up to 20 years
• Size: 18–26 inches
• Weight: 1.5–3.5 lbs
• Wingspan: 43–57 inches

3. Sharp-shinned Hawk

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is North America’s smallest hawk but don’t let its size fool you—it’s a fierce hunter. These nimble raptors specialize in ambushing small birds, often darting through forested areas with remarkable agility. Their bluish-gray backs and orange-barred chests help distinguish them from other small hawks. In Texas, they are mainly seen in winter, especially around backyard feeders where they pursue sparrows and finches.

• Scientific Name: Accipiter striatus
• Lifespan: 3–5 years
• Size: 9–13 inches
• Weight: 3–7 oz
• Wingspan: 17–22 inches

4. Cooper’s Hawk

Cooper’s Hawks are medium-sized forest hawks known for their skillful flying and deadly pursuit of birds. Often mistaken for the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s have a more rounded tail and a slightly larger build. These hawks are now common in suburban areas across Texas, often lurking near bird feeders. Their ability to adapt to urban environments has made them one of the more frequently spotted raptors.

• Scientific Name: Accipiter cooperii
• Lifespan: 8–12 years
• Size: 14–20 inches
• Weight: 1–1.5 lbs
• Wingspan: 24–35 inches

5. Ferruginous Hawk

The Ferruginous Hawk is the largest hawk in North America and is known for its powerful flight and pale, rusty-toned plumage. In Texas, it’s a winter visitor, often seen in the open plains and grasslands of the western part of the state. These hawks feed mainly on ground squirrels and rabbits. Their impressive wingspan and feathered legs give them a majestic presence, especially when gliding low over fields.

• Scientific Name: Buteo regalis
• Lifespan: Up to 20 years
• Size: 22–27 inches
• Weight: 2–4.5 lbs
• Wingspan: 52–56 inches

6. Red-shouldered Hawk

The Red-shouldered Hawk is a striking raptor often heard before it’s seen, thanks to its loud, whistling call. Found near wooded streams and bottomlands across East Texas, this hawk has bold reddish barring on its chest and a banded black-and-white tail. It prefers dense forests and often nests near water. Red-shouldered Hawks are skilled fliers and regularly perch quietly in the shadows, waiting to ambush frogs, snakes, and small mammals.

• Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus
• Lifespan: 10–15 years
• Size: 15–23 inches
• Weight: 1–1.7 lbs
• Wingspan: 37–43 inches

7. Swainson’s Hawk

Swainson’s Hawks are summer residents in Texas and famous for their astonishing migration to Argentina—a 12,000-mile round trip! These graceful flyers are commonly seen soaring over open country and farmlands. They have a pale belly, dark chest, and long wings that help them glide for hours. In Texas, they breed during the warmer months and feed on insects, especially grasshoppers, which they often snatch while flying low over fields.

• Scientific Name: Buteo swainsoni
• Lifespan: 15–20 years
• Size: 18–22 inches
• Weight: 1.5–2.5 lbs
• Wingspan: 46–54 inches

8. Broad-winged Hawk

The Broad-winged Hawk is a small, stocky hawk most often seen during migration. They travel in huge flocks known as “kettles,” especially in the fall, making stops across East Texas. These hawks prefer thick forests and are more often heard than seen when nesting. They have short tails with white bands and broad wings, ideal for their long flights. Migration watchers love spotting these hawks circling on rising warm air.

• Scientific Name: Buteo platypterus
• Lifespan: 12–16 years
• Size: 13–17 inches
• Weight: 9–17 oz
• Wingspan: 29–39 inches

9. Gray Hawk

The Gray Hawk is a small, slender raptor with striking silver-gray feathers and a finely banded tail. It is extremely localized in Texas, found only in the southern tip near the Rio Grande Valley. These hawks prefer riparian woodlands where they hunt lizards and small snakes. Despite their rarity, Gray Hawks are beautiful and elegant birds often seen gliding just above the treetops in search of prey.

• Scientific Name: Buteo plagiatus
• Lifespan: 7–12 years
• Size: 18–24 inches
• Weight: 1.1–1.7 lbs
• Wingspan: 34–40 inches

10. Zone-tailed Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawks are often mistaken for Turkey Vultures due to their similar flight style and dark plumage. This mimicry allows them to get closer to unsuspecting prey. Found in far West and South Texas, especially around canyons and rocky outcrops, they are striking birds with bold white tail bands. Zone-tailed Hawks are stealth hunters and prefer reptiles, birds, and small mammals in rugged, arid habitats.

• Scientific Name: Buteo albonotatus
• Lifespan: ~10–12 years
• Size: 17–22 inches
• Weight: 1.3–2.1 lbs
• Wingspan: 46–55 inches

Here are the final six hawks with 70–80 word intros and complete ID details:

11. Northern Harrier

The Northern Harrier is one of the few hawks that rely heavily on their sense of hearing to hunt, thanks to their owl-like facial disk. These slender raptors glide low over marshes and grasslands with wings held in a V-shape. Males are pale gray, while females are larger and brown. In Texas, they’re common winter visitors, especially in open prairies where they stalk voles, mice, and other ground-dwelling prey.

• Scientific Name: Circus hudsonius
• Lifespan: 7–15 years
• Size: 16–20 inches
• Weight: 0.8–1.3 lbs
• Wingspan: 38–48 inches

12. Rough legged Buzzard (Rough-legged Hawk)

Visiting only in winter, the Rough-legged Hawk breeds in the Arctic and migrates south to Texas grasslands. It’s one of the few hawks with feathered legs all the way to the toes, an adaptation for cold climates. These raptors hover in place while hunting—unusual behavior for a hawk. Their color patterns vary, but most show a dark belly patch and light-colored wings with a distinct wrist patch.

• Scientific Name: Buteo lagopus
• Lifespan: 5–15 years
• Size: 18–24 inches
• Weight: 2–3 lbs
• Wingspan: 52–54 inches

13. Common Black Hawk

The Common Black Hawk is a rare sight in Texas, occasionally appearing near the Rio Grande Valley. These stocky hawks prefer riparian forests and are often seen perched quietly above slow-moving rivers. Their all-black plumage, broad wings, and short tail with a white band make them easy to recognize. They feed primarily on amphibians, fish, and crabs, foraging along streambanks or wading through shallow water.

• Scientific Name: Buteogallus anthracinus
• Lifespan: 12–15 years
• Size: 19–21 inches
• Weight: 1.6–2.4 lbs
• Wingspan: 46–53 inches

14. Crane Hawk

Very rare in the United States, the Crane Hawk is an unusual tropical raptor that has made occasional appearances in deep South Texas. It’s best known for its long legs and extreme joint flexibility, allowing it to extract prey from tree cavities. These sleek blackish-gray hawks hunt in dense tropical forests and along rivers. Their long tail has white bands, and their red eyes give them a striking appearance.

• Scientific Name: Geranospiza caerulescens
• Lifespan: Unknown in wild
• Size: 18–24 inches
• Weight: ~1.5–2 lbs
• Wingspan: 35–45 inches

15. Osprey (Fish Hawk)

Though technically not a hawk, the Osprey is often grouped with them due to its raptor status and large size. Ospreys are fish specialists, seen hovering over lakes, rivers, and coastal bays before diving feet-first to catch their slippery prey. With a white underside, dark eye stripe, and bent wings in flight, they’re easily recognizable. In Texas, they migrate through and nest near major bodies of water.

• Scientific Name: Pandion haliaetus
• Lifespan: 15–20 years
• Size: 21–26 inches
• Weight: 3–4.4 lbs
• Wingspan: 59–71 inches

16. Roadside Hawk

The Roadside Hawk is a small tropical hawk more common in Central and South America, with very few confirmed sightings in Texas. When they do appear, it’s typically in the far southern border near the Rio Grande. These hawks are named for their habit of perching on wires or posts near roads. They’re brownish-gray with barred chests and yellow legs. Their diet includes lizards, insects, and small mammals.

• Scientific Name: Rupornis magnirostris
• Lifespan: Unknown
• Size: 12–16 inches
• Weight: 0.7–1 lb
• Wingspan: 30–36 inches

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FAQs

What is the most common hawk in Texas?

The Red-tailed Hawk is the most widespread and commonly seen hawk in Texas. It’s a year-round resident and can often be spotted perched on poles or soaring over open fields.

Are hawks protected in Texas?

Yes, all native hawk species in Texas are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It’s illegal to harm, capture, or disturb them or their nests without proper permits.

When is the best time to see hawks in Texas?

Fall (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the best times to see hawk migrations. During these seasons, thousands of hawks pass through Texas flyways.

Can I attract hawks to my backyard?

While hawks are not backyard-friendly like songbirds, they may show up if your area has feeders or open spaces with prey. However, attracting them intentionally is not recommended due to their hunting nature.

How do I tell the difference between similar hawks?

Pay close attention to tail shape, wing patterns, size, and behavior. For example, Cooper’s Hawks have rounded tails, while Sharp-shinned Hawks have square tails. Field guides and binoculars help with accurate ID.