Hawks in Ohio

We normally associate Hawks with rural areas, however, hawks can be found almost anywhere. Hawks are birds of prey and are a spectacular sight with their flying agility. If you want to know more about Hawks in Ohio, read on…

About Hawks in Ohio

Hawks mainly hunt rabbits, rats, skunks, and mice for food. The estimated population of Hawks in Ohio is around 10 million. Between 1-2 million of these Hawks are part of the annual migration where they enter the state in the fall and winter.

Hawks hunt during the day and most species rely heavily on their razor-sharp vision, which is 8 times sharper than that of humans. You may see hawks hunting at dusk as this is when their prey become active.

There are 10 species of Hawks that either make Ohio their home or pass through when they migrate.  The 10 species are:

Broad-Winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus | 1 pound | 33 inch wingspan

Broad-Winged Hawks are migratory birds, spending winter in Ohio, and flying south for the summer. It is estimated that these birds travel over 4,000 miles to migrate, and they do this twice a year – there and back! These hawks are found primarily in southeastern Ohio in wooded habitat. They spend much of their time within the tree canopy.

Food: Birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

Cooper’s Hawk

Accipiter cooperii | ½ – 1½ pounds | 29 – 37 inch wingspan

The Cooper’s Hawk can be mistaken for the Sharp-Shinned Hawk, although the latter is considerably smaller. Cooper’s Hawks are non-migratory. This hawk feeds primarily on small birds, so is frequently spotted around birdfeeders.

The Cooper’s Hawk is a very agile flier and is one of the more commonly seen raptors in Ohio.

Food: Mainly birds, sometimes reptiles and amphibians.

Harris’s Hawk

Parabuteo unicinctus | 1½ – 2½ pounds | 18 – 23 inch wingspan

Harris’s Hawk is a rare hawk in Ohio. Unusually, these hawks hunt in groups or teams, preying on medium-sized mammals and birds. Harris’s Hawks are often used by falconers or in education programs.

Northern Goshawk

Accipiter gentilis | 1½ – 3½ pounds | 40 – 47 inch wingspan

The Northern Goshawk is a fierce hunter and will even attack humans if they feel their nest is threatened. Some individuals are short-term migrants to Ohio, spending most of their time in the western states of the US and the southern regions of Canada. These hawks are hard to spot in Ohio.

Food: Birds, mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates.

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius | 10½ – 14 ounces | 38 – 48 inch wingspan

Northern Harriers are unique in the world of hawks as they rely as much on their hearing as on their eyesight to catch prey, very similar to owls. Northern Harriers are found in open grasslands, fields, or marshes. You can easily spot them as they fly very low when hunting. The Northern Harrier is a State Endangered Species.

Food: Small mammals, birds, snakes, frogs, and insects.

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus | 1 – 1½ pounds | 37 – 42 inch wingspan

Red-Shouldered Hawks are non-migratory. These hawks reside in mature lowland woods such as swamps and river corridors, although they will live and nest in suburban areas too. Red-Shouldered Hawks have an easily identifiable screech setting them apart from other hawks in Ohio, however, Blue jays mimic their screech to stay safe from predators.

Food: Birds, amphibians, and reptiles.

Red-Tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis | 1½ – 3½ pounds | 43 – 55 inch wingspan

Some Red-Tailed Hawks are non-migratory, others migrate into Ohio for the winter. They can be seen all over the state of Ohio, in fact, all over the USA! There are 14 subspecies of Red-Tailed Hawk, so their colors vary from nearly white to almost black, but they always have red in their tail. Not all of these species are present in Ohio.

Food: Small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects.

Rough-Legged Hawk

Buteo lagopus | 1½ – 3½ pounds | 18 – 23 inch wingspan

The Rough-Legged Hawk migrates to Ohio in the winter, but for most of the year, you will not see them in Ohio. They prefer the colder areas including the Arctic and Russia, they come to Ohio when it is too cold in those places. These are one of the very few birds of prey that truly hover in place when hunting. Another unusual thing about the Rough-Legged Hawk is the feathers they have all the way down to their feet.

Food: Small mammals and birds

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus | 3 – 8 ounces | 17 – 26 inch wingspan

The Sharp-Shinned Hawk is non-migratory. It is the smallest hawk in the US. There are 10 subspecies of Sharp-Shinned Hawks and they come in all shapes and sizes. The majority of the subspecies do not live in the US. Sharp-Shinned Hawks can be confused with Cooper’s Hawks, which are significantly larger, but unless you see the two together, it is easy to wrongly identify either hawk.

Sharp-Shinned Hawks are swift and use the element of surprise to catch their prey. They can often be seen around birdfeeders preying on the small birds that visit.

Swainson’s Hawk

Buteo swainsoni | 1½ – 3 pounds | 46 – 54 inch wingspan

Swainson’s Hawks are migratory and they have one of the longest migratory paths, flying to Argentina each fall. They vary in color from light brown to dark gray. Sightings of Swainson’s Hawk are very rare in Ohio.

Food: Small mammals.

If you would like to get up close and personal with some of the species of hawks in Ohio, check out the Ohio School Of Falconry! Located in Columbus, you can get involved in various experiences and events.

Spotting Hawks in Ohio

Have you spotted any hawks in Ohio? Were you able to identify them? We would love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and share your experience.

Ohio is also home to many other animals and wildlife, such as Coyotes!

One of our favorite varieties of creatures to spot while out on our travels is Frogs In Ohio. If like us, you are in awe of these amphibians, be sure to check our article all about them!

Do you like other types of amphibians? Check out our post all about Salamanders In Ohio!