Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) — Birds of Prey of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in North America. Adults weigh 454 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Buteo
- Species platypterus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 454 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Broad-winged Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Broad-winged Hawk is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) belongs to the Accipitridae family of the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA e, c.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 454 g, with a wing length of about 27.8 cm and a tail of around 17.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Broad-winged Hawk?
The Broad-winged Hawk is a large bird that weighs around 454 g.
Where does the Broad-winged Hawk live?
The Broad-winged Hawk is found across North America with a range covering NA e, c, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Broad-winged Hawk belong to?
The Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Broad-winged Hawk eat?
The Broad-winged Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Broad-winged Hawk migrate?
The Broad-winged Hawk is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Broad-winged Hawk endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Broad-winged Hawk make?
1 real field recording of the Broad-winged Hawk — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Broad-winged Hawk's range?
The Broad-winged Hawk has a mapped global range of about 4.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.