broad-winged eagle
cooper’s eagle
iron eagle
northern goshawk
northern harrier
red-shouldered hawk
red tailed hawk
thick-legged eagle
sharp eagle
swainson’s eagle
Nicknamed the “Land of Thousand Lakes” (11,842 to be exact), Minnesota is an ideal breeding and nesting ground for hawks. With a diverse habitat consisting of forest, open landscape and water, the eagle has plenty of room to soar and zero in on prey on the ground floor. While most hawks move around the state, they can be observed year-round. If you are looking for a specific species, you must know, which hawks can be found in Minnesota?
Ten species of eagles can be observed in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, including the broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, iron hawk, cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, rough-legged hawk, northern harrier, red-shouldered hawk, sharp hawk and swain Sen’s Eagle. In general, every hawk prefers to live in or near open areas, which makes hunting easier and more efficient.
Read on to learn more about 10 Minnesota eagle species!
did you know?
The following list of hawks has been compiled from historical sighting reports from various sources. While some of the birds listed are uncommon and hard to spot, we’ve included them anyway because they can still sometimes be found in Minnesota.
broad-winged eagle
buzzard
length:
34cm to 44cm
span:
81cm to 100cm
weight:
265 grams to 560 grams
See:
April to mid-October
broad-winged eagle
The broad-winged eagle is a medium-sized species with a strong build and a small stature, making it easy to adapt to the forest. Their plumage is reddish brown with black and white stripes on their tails.
These birds spend most of their time sitting in the forest canopy away from humans. You can hear their screeching whistles throughout the summer, and they migrate to the southern part of the state in September, but they can be observed from April to mid-October. Broad-winged hawks perch on tree branches, waiting to dive and catch small mammals, toads or frogs.
cooper’s eagle
Furutaka
length:
39cm to 45cm
span:
62cm to 99cm
weight:
215 grams to 701 grams
See:
whole year
cooper’s eagle
Considered a medium-sized hawk in Minnesota, the Cooper’s hawk is smaller than a crow and the female is much larger than the male. Visually, the eagle resembles a pointed eagle, with a bluish-gray appearance, steel-blue feathers on the wings and back, brown stripes on the underbelly, a reddish-brown chest, and a small black cap. The difference between these two species is their size.
Throughout the year, you can spot Cooper’s hawks in field edges, backyards, dense forests, and woodlands. The best time to see them is October when they start migrating across the state. These hawks love to chew on small mammals and other birds such as finches, jays and robins.
iron eagle
buzzard
length:
56cm to 69cm
span:
122cm to 152cm
weight:
977 grams to 2.074 kilograms
See:
Rare, but between May and October
iron eagle
The Ferruginous or Light Morph hawk has broad pointed wings and a large headed appearance and flies with rusty feathered legs, white tail and white belly. The rarer dark deformed hawks are a deep reddish-brown chocolate color with white bases of their feathers forming white outer wing plates. They are between the size of crows and geese.
You can find this hawk on woodland edges, bushes, bushes, grass, and general open spaces. While they are rarely seen in Minnesota, you can catch a glimpse between May and October. Their diet consists mainly of small and medium-sized mammals, such as juvenile jackrabbits, squirrels, gophers, rats, and mice, as well as large insects, snakes, and birds.
northern goshawk
chickpeas
length:
55cm to 61cm
span:
98cm to 115cm
weight:
631 grams to 1.364 kilograms
See:
Year round, but most often in winter
northern goshawk
As a large hawk, the northern goshawk is about the size of a goose, similar to the red-tailed hawk. Like many other hawk species, females tend to be larger than males. With deep red eyes and a dark head, the northern goshawk cannot be mistaken for another species. A typical adult has a white-blue or light gray underbelly and lime-gray wings. These birds of prey are adept at protecting nests and young from trespassers, and have been known to attack anyone who gets too close. This means these magnificent birds are best viewed from afar.
While these birds can be observed year-round, the best time to see them is in late fall throughout winter when they migrate from their breeding grounds. Like most other hawks, their diet consists of small mammals, rodents, snakes, insects, and medium-sized birds.
northern harrier
circus hudson
length:
41cm to 52cm
span:
97cm to 122cm
weight:
290g to 750g
See:
Year round, but most often from March to mid-November
northern harrier
The northern harrier is easily recognizable by its white tail spots, owl face and chevron in flight. In short, these are some of the most majestic of all birds. You can find these beautiful birds year-round in northern and central Minnesota during their breeding season, as well as in the southwestern part of the state.
You may see this species flying over swamps, fields, and other wide open areas in search of small mammals. While other hawks use their sharp eyesight to catch prey, northern harriers use their sense of hearing.
red-shouldered hawk
buzzard
length:
43cm to 61cm
span:
90cm to 127cm
weight:
550g to 700g
See:
Year round, but most common March to October
red-shouldered hawk
Red-shouldered hawks belong to the big hawks in Minnesota (and the world). These hawks are distinctively marked with red shoulders, easily identifiable when perched, dark brown and white patterned wings, white belly feathers, strongly banded tail and striped russet chest. Red-shouldered hawks mainly live in forests with open canopies to improve hunting efficiency. Their nests are found in woodlands on the edge of rivers and swamps. The greatest threat to this species is deforestation by humans.
While the eagles are in Minnesota year-round, the best time to see them is March through October, especially late October. This hawk preyed on small mammals, but has been known to eat lizards, snakes and amphibians.
red tailed hawk
Jamaican Buteo
length:
45cm to 65cm
span:
100cm to 150cm
weight:
690 grams to 1.46 kilograms
See:
whole year
red tailed hawk
The most common species of hawk in Minnesota is the red-tailed hawk. With approximately 2 million nests, this is one of the most common hawks in the United States and the second most common in North America. According to the name, these hawks have red tails and white plumage bellies, ranging in color from white to almost black. You can see them soaring high in the air in search of prey early in the morning and throughout the day.
Red-tailed hawks are found in all habitats in Minnesota, from suburban to urban areas, above trees, in parks, roadsides, fields, woodlands, and forests. Their most common nesting site is in central Minnesota and can be seen year-round. Their diets vary and include reptiles, birds, and small mammals.
thick-legged eagle
Buteo
length:
45cm to 63cm
span:
120cm to 153cm
weight:
600 grams to 1.66 kilograms
See:
september to june
thick-legged eagle
The medium-sized rough-legged hawk has a vibrant plumage pattern that is unique and beautiful in flight. They have light-colored tails and heads with dark plumage on their bellies. As the name suggests, these birds’ feet are covered with feathers that keep them warm in cold habitats. Since they breed and live in the arctic tundra in summer, they can be difficult to spot, so the best time to see them is from September to June.
Search clearings such as grasslands and cliffsides during these months to get the best insight into their daily lives. They build nests on the edge of cliffs out of twigs and animal bones. Their diet relies on small rodents such as mice, shrews and voles.
sharp eagle
Eagle
length:
24cm to 34cm
span:
53cm to 65cm
weight:
87 grams to 218 grams
See:
whole year
sharp eagle
The Sharp-Shinned hawk is the smallest hawk in the United States, with females one-third larger than males. Despite their small size, these birds of prey are adept at acrobatics and athleticism. You can recognize them by the slate-colored plumage on their backs and wings, and the orange plumage on their upper chest that fades into their belly.
Sharp-Shinned hawks are usually found in densely forested areas where they nest in low exposed trees. These birds will prey on other birds, so you may see them waiting patiently near your local bird feeder to hunt songbirds. While these birds can be observed year-round, you’ll see the most during the winter migration season.
swainson’s eagle
salamander
length:
48cm to 56cm
span:
117cm to 137cm
weight:
937 grams to 1.367 kilograms
See:
April to mid-October
swainson’s eagle
Found primarily in southern and western Minnesota, the Swainson’s Hawk is easy to spot perched on phone boxes, soaring above treelines, or lounging over fence posts and open fields. They are migratory birds, so the best chance of seeing them is from April to mid-October, when they travel to and from their breeding grounds.
This species migrates in groups called “jugs” and can be identified by their short tails, long wings, reddish-brown breasts, brown and gray plumage, and light-colored bellies. They prefer to feed on small reptiles and mammals in early summer and larger insects in other seasons.
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.