Every TYPE Of HAWKS Explained In 4 Minutes

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]Red-tailed Hawk.

[00:00:01]Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most common hawks in North America. It lives across the United States, Canada, and parts of Central America. Found in open fields, deserts, roadsides, and forest edges. It grows around 18 to 26 inches tall with a wingspan reaching up to 56 inches.

[00:00:21]That distinctive brick red tail is what gives it the name. It hunts small mammals like mice, voles, rabbits, and squirrels. It drinks water from streams and puddles, but gets most moisture from its prey. It is not considered dangerous to humans, though it will defend its nest aggressively. If one nests nearby, simply keep a respectful distance and you will be completely fine. Cooper's Hawk.

[00:00:46]Cooper's Hawk is a medium-sized, fast, and highly agile hunter built specifically for chasing prey through dense forests. Native to North America, it ranges from southern Canada all the way through Mexico. It measures 14 to 20 inches in length with a wingspan of around 24 to 36 inches. Unlike open country hawks, this one dives through trees at high speed to catch birds mid-flight, making it a skilled aerial predator. It also eats small mammals and occasionally lizards. It poses no real threat to people, but it does raid backyard bird feeders hunting smaller birds attracted to them. To reduce conflict, simply space out your feeders or place them near dense shrubs where small birds can escape quickly.

[00:01:31]Sharp-shinned Hawk. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest hawk in North America, yet it is a surprisingly fierce predator. Found across Canada, the United States, and wintering into Central America, this hawk favors dense woodlands and forest edges. It grows only 9 to 13 inches long with a wingspan of 16 to 22 inches. Despite its small size, it actively hunts birds up to its own size and wishing them with sudden bursts of speed. It also feeds on small rodents and large insects. It drinks from shallow water sources, but relies heavily on prey for hydration. It is not dangerous to humans at all. Around backyard feeders, it can cause some concern, but it is simply doing what its nature requires. Ferruginous Hawk. The Ferruginous Hawk is the largest hawk in North America and one of the most powerful. It lives across the open grasslands, shrublands, and prairies of the western United States and southern Canada, migrating into Mexico during winter. It can reach 27 inches in length with a wingspan stretching up to 60 inches. The name Ferruginous means rust-colored, referring to its warm reddish-brown tones. It hunts prairie dogs, ground squirrels, rabbits, and other burrowing mammals, making it critical for controlling rodent populations across open landscapes. It is not a threat to humans, though it is a powerful bird. Giving it space during nesting season is enough to avoid any disturbance. Harris' Hawk. Harris' Hawk is one of the most unique hawks on Earth due to one extraordinary behavior. It hunts in collaborative groups, much like wolves do. Native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and South America, it thrives in desert scrublands and semi-arid regions.

[00:03:24]It grows 18 to 24 inches long with a wingspan of about 40 to 47 inches.

[00:03:31]Groups of two to six birds work together to flush out prey, then share the meal.

[00:03:36]It hunts rabbits, rodents, lizards, and birds. Because of its cooperative intelligence and calm temperament, it is also the most widely used hawk in falconry worldwide. It holds no danger to humans and is actually known to be highly responsive to people. Northern Goshawk. Northern Goshawk is the most formidable hawk in the Northern Hemisphere. It lives in mature forests across North America, Europe, and Asia, preferring remote wilderness far from human activity. It reaches 24 in in length with a wingspan of up to 46 in.

[00:04:14]It is a fast, aggressive, and powerful hunter that pursues prey through dense forest at remarkable speed. It hunts medium-sized rabbits, squirrels, and even grouse. The Goshawk is the one hawk that will actively defend its territory against humans, diving repeatedly at anyone who comes too close to its nest.

[00:04:33]If you encounter one messing nearby, wearing a hat and calmly backing away is the safest response.