Hawks With Striped Tails: Identification and Tips (2024)

This site is supported by our readers. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through links.

Hawks with striped tails are a common sight in North America, with over 25 different species living across the continent. Among these birds of prey, there are several species that have distinctively banded tail feathers – and learning how to identify them can be an enlightening experience for any bird-lover.

In this article, we’ll cover the most commonly observed types of hawks sporting striped tails – including Accipiters and Buteos – along with some helpful tips on recognizing these feathered friends from afar.

The most commonly observed hawks with striped tails are the Cooper’s Hawk and the Red-tailed Hawk. The Cooper’s Hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey that belongs to the Accipiter group. It has blue-gray upperparts and a barred belly and breast. Its most distinguishing feature is the broad black and white striped tail.

The Red-tailed Hawk is another commonly seen raptor with a reddish-brown body and streaked belly. As the name suggests, it has a reddish tail with darker bands. This large Buteo hawk soars over open fields and perches on poles or branches while hunting.

When trying to identify a hawk at a distance, focus on the bird’s size, shape, flight pattern and tail pattern. Accipiters like the Cooper’s Hawk have short rounded wings and long tails that help them maneuver deftly through dense woods.

Buteos like the Red-tailed Hawk have broader wings designed for soaring over open areas.

So if you spot a hawk gracefully riding thermals or swooping through the trees, take a closer look at its tail to see if you can distinguish any bold stripes.

Hawks With Striped Tails

You’d be surprised to learn that of the 15 hawk species soaring over North America, only a handful show off stripes on those rudders in the sky. The red-tailed hawk sports the most familiar striped tail, with rusty red bands contrasting sharply against a light background.

Swainson’s hawks exhibit delicate lines on an otherwise plain tail. And you can’t miss the bold black and white bars on a Swallow-tailed Kite’s tail as it elegantly rides the breeze.

Even among the buteos, tail markings vary. While the common Red-tailed presents obvious stripes, species like the Ferruginous Hawk show faint barring that disappears with age. So next time you spot a raptor overhead, check for stripes on the tail to help narrow down an ID.

Subtle differences in plumage can distinguish one soaring Accipiter or Buteo from another.

Accipiters With Striped Tails

Accipiters are agile hawks adept at maneuvering through dense forests in pursuit of prey. The three accipiters with striped tails found in North America are the small Sharp-shinned Hawk, the larger Cooper’s Hawk, and the Northern Goshawk, the biggest of the group.

They rely on surprise attacks, swooping down through dense cover to grab small birds and mammals. Their short, rounded wings and long tails give them superb maneuverability to catch prey on the wing. The Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks prey mostly on songbirds, while the Northern Goshawk is powerful enough to bring down larger quarry like grouse, crows, and rabbits.

Though fierce hunters, these secretive woodland hawks avoid open areas and are more often heard than seen. But patient birders may be rewarded with a glimpse of their boldly-patterned underparts and barred tails as they hunt among the trees.

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Though small in stature, your heart races like a falcon when the sharp-shinned hawk dives with talons bared, reminding you that size alone does not determine one’s ferocity.

• Fearless hunters despite their petite frames, sharp-shinned hawks specialize in taking small birds as prey.
• They make lightning-fast dives through dense cover when hunting.
• These accipiters migrate long distances from their northern nesting grounds each year.
• While populations are overall stable, local declines have been observed in some areas.

The fierce spirit of this tiny raptor defies its slight build, proving that great dangers can come in small packages.

Cooper’s Hawk

Cooper’s Hawks have larger builds with deliberate wing beats and grating calls unlike other striped-tailed birds. Cooper’s hawks inhabit forests and woodlands across North America. They eat small birds and mammals, hunting by surprise from cover.

Though populations declined with pesticides, they’ve rebounded with bans. Still, habitat loss remains a threat.

Northern Goshawk

You can identify the Northern Goshawk by its larger size, slower wingbeats, and distinctive tail compared to other accipiter hawks with striped tails. Spot this fierce forest raptor by looking for its bold striped tail and distinctive white eye line as it soars between trees or perches high up, watching for its next meal.

Though elusive, listen for its loud, repetitive kek-kek-kek calls among the canopy to help find this evasive bird of prey. Gaining understanding of this powerful avian predator’s habits aids conservation of the species and its habitat.

Buteos With Striped Tails

When we focus on buteos with striped tails in North America, the red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, and rough-legged hawk stand out. The red-shouldered hawk shows reddish barring on its wings and translucent crescents on the primaries, while the widespread red-tailed hawk varies in color but always sports rusty tails and distinct belly bands.

Meanwhile, the rough-legged hawk occurs in both dark and light morphs, featuring long wings and tails adapted for soaring.

Red-shouldered Hawk

You’ll recognize the red-shouldered hawk by its reddish barring and translucent crescents on the primaries. This majestic raptor boasts striking plumage in hues of brown, white, and rufous. Its piercing kee-ah cry rings through hardwood forests as it soars over treetops seeking prey.

Perching patiently atop branches, the watchful red-shoulder scans below, ever vigilant to snatch unsuspecting quarry.

Though variable regionally, this handsome Buteo favors nesting in tall trees near water, adapting readily to wooded suburbs. Its powerful talons and hooked beak make quick work of captured rodents, snakes, and amphibians.

Despite urban encroachment, the resilient red-shoulder continues flourishing across much of North America.

Red-tailed Hawk

With rusty tails that stand out from their white bellies and clear belly bands, Red-tails show their signature markings.

Body features
Rusty tails	Stand out from white bellies
Clear belly bands	Distinctive field mark

Red-tailed hawks thrive in varied habitats, hunting rodents and other small prey. Their adaptability allows them to nest in trees, cliffs, or on human structures.

Rough-legged Hawk

See dark and light morphs gracefully soaring high on long wings and tails. Rough-legged Hawks inhabit the arctic tundra, but migrate south in winter across Canada and the northern United States. Their plumage varies from dark brown to pale whitish-brown. These hawks have feathered legs and toes that protect them against the cold.

With their long wings and tails, they effortlessly soar while hunting rodents. As masters of flight, Rough-legged Hawks use their keen eyesight to spot prey. Their adaptations allow them to thrive in the unforgiving landscapes of the far north.

Other Hawks With Striped Tails

You are familiar with the North American Buteo hawks that feature striped tails, including the Red-tailed and Swainson’s. However, there are some less common species in this group that also sport the signature striped tail, such as the Zone-tailed, Harris’s, and Common Black Hawk.

These three tend to inhabit particular regions or habitats, like rocky cliffs or wooded areas near water, contributing to their scarcer classifications across the continent.

Zone-tailed Hawk

Among the hawks soaring high over rocky cliffs and canyons, you’ll notice the Zone-tailed with its distinct striped tail resembling that of a turkey vulture. With keen eyesight, this intriguing raptor scans the terrain below for prey like rabbits, rodents, and reptiles.

Stealthy in flight, it can surprise quarry before talons strike. Though these hawks range across the Southwest, their numbers remain small.

Harris’s Hawk

You’d be surprised how often folks mistake that distinctive reddish-brown patchwork for a red-tailed’s rusty tail. But this little raptor’s got its own style. Found hunting in groups across the southern U.

S., Harris’s hawks search scrublands for small game. With splotchy chests and dark wingtips, they sweep low, communicating with raspy cackles before snatching up prey. Though adaptable, protecting their desert home is key so we can keep enjoying this social bird’s aerial antics.

Common Black Hawk

You barely spy that rare black hawk gliding through the woods as you hike near the river. This unique raptor favors wooded areas near water for nesting and hunting. It glides low through the trees, scanning for frogs, snakes, and small mammals.

Though elusive, catching a glimpse of its distinctive black plumage is a special treat for any birdwatcher. Monitoring this uncommon species will be key to ensuring its future in limited suitable habitat.

Identification Tips for Hawks With Striped Tails

Focus on carefully studying the minute details when trying to distinguish those raptors with patterned plumage. The key is looking for subtle differences in striped tail patterns, plumage variations, distinguishing marks, and habitat clues that set each species apart.

Listen for vocalization cues too. A Swainson’s Hawk may be identified by its slender shape and dark belly band. The Swallow-tailed Kite displays black and white plumage resembling its name. You may spot a Northern Harrier, or Marsh Hawk, hunting low over grasslands and marshes.

Developing a keen eye through patient observation is crucial for identifying these masters of the skies.

• Study striped tail patterns for variations
• Note plumage traits like color and markings
• Watch flight styles and behaviors
• Consider geographic range and habitat
• Listen for distinct vocalizations