Carolina Raptor Center - Raptor Species: Broad-winged Hawk

Description: Their small crow-like size sets the broad-winged hawk apart from other North American buteos. It has short but rather pointed wings with only three of the outer primaries notched. The tail has alternating broad bands in black and white. The back and wings are dark brown. In adults, the breast has narrow rufous barring. In immature birds, the breast is buffy with varying amounts of dark spotting. Slight malard stripe (mustache), and light square window on wings.

Flight: Glides and soars on flattened wings, labored flapping soar. Still-hunting from perches seems to be the preferred hunting technique. Pointed wings can sometimes be confused with peregrine falcon.

Voice: Two-syllable whistle "pee-wee," first note slightly higher in pitch. The male's call is noticeably higher than the females.

Habitat: Prefer continuous rather than broken woodlands, although they use edges of openings for hunting. Most nest near water.

Distribution: They follow routes that concentrate birds into large groups of thousands of birds. There is spectacular kettling of a huge column of birds before gliding off the top to the next thermal. Travel distances of 10,000-11,000 miles round trip. Migrate to Peru, Brazil, Guatemala, South and Central America. Weather conditions and geographic conditions make them move in mass but not flock.

Nesting: Place nest in crotch of tree, rarely reuse nest in consecutive years, might renovate old crow, other raptor, or squirrel nest, often in the vicinity of water. 25-40 feet high in lower third of tree. 2-4 eggs are laid, and the female incubates while male provides food. Incubation lasts 28-31 days; young fledge by the sixth week. Clutch size increases as you go south to north.

Food: Small mammals and birds, lizards, frogs, snakes, and invertebrates.