Nestled within the diverse tapestry of Mississippi’s landscapes, a remarkable array of hawk species gracefully soar through the skies, embodying the state’s rich biodiversity. From the mighty red-tailed hawk to the agile cooper’s hawk, Mississippi provides a haven for these magnificent birds of prey.
The magnolia state’s many habitats, ranging from expansive pine forests and bottomland hardwoods to coastal marshes and open grasslands, offer an ideal mosaic for various hawk species to thrive. This article showcases the species of hawks that live in Mississippi.
There are approximately 16 species of hawks living across the United States, with 8 of them found in Mississippi. Those species are the broad-winged hawk, Cooper’s hawk, northern harrier, red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, Swainson’s hawk and rough-legged hawk.
Please note, in this article we refer to both accipiters and buteos as ‘hawks’ in alignment with North American terminology. This reflects regional naming conventions and is not intended to overlook the taxonomic distinctions among these groups of birds of prey.
1. Broad-winged Hawk
Scientific name: Buteo platypterus
Length: 13.4-17.3 in
Weight: 9.3-19.8 oz
Wingspan: 31.9-39.4 in
Broad-winged hawks are migratory. They travel north into Mississippi during the spring-summer to breed, then head back south to Central and South America in the fall. If you are hoping to see the broad-winged hawk, your best bet is during fall migration on their way back South America. Flocks called “kettles”, that can contain thousands of birds, circle in the sky. If you are not in their migration line, you can catch sight of them in forests. Just listen for their piercing whistles.
These smaller hawks have a brown head that transitions into a