Types Of Hawks In Minnesota (Complete Guide)

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!

broad-winged eagle

buzzard

broad-winged eagle

broad winged eagle in flight

broad-winged eagle hatchling

Broad-winged eagle perched on a branch

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

cooper’s eagle

cooper’s hawk in flight

cooper’s hawk eating prey

Juvenile Cooper’s Eagle perched on a tree

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

iron eagle

Iron eagle standing on a branch with spread wings

Close-up of a ferrous eagle

iron eagle in flight

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

northern goshawk

juvenile northern goshawk

northern goshawk in flight

female northern goshawk

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

northern harrier

Adult female northern harrier in flight

northern harrier perched on a branch

Northern harrier looking for prey at low altitude

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

red-shouldered hawk

Close-up of a red-shouldered hawk

red shouldered hawk in flight

Red-shouldered hawk perched on a tree

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

red tailed hawk

Close-up of a red-tailed hawk

Red-tailed hawk in flight

Juvenile red-tailed hawk in flight

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

thick-legged eagle

Thick-legged hawk flying low looking for prey

Close-up of a thick-legged eagle

thick-legged eagle in flight

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

sharp eagle

female sharp-winged eagle

Immature sharp eagle perched on a branch

Close-up of a sharp eagle

sharp eagle in flight

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

swainson’s eagle

Close-up of a Swainson Hawk

Swainson’s eagle perched on a post

swainson hawk in flight

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.