Wisconsin’s varied landscapes and rich ecosystems provide a haven for an impressive array of hawks. With around 16 species of hawks known in the United States, Wisconsin boasts its own unique subset of these majestic raptors. This article dives into the hawks of Wisconsin, detailing the species you might encounter across the state and offering insights into their habits and habitats.
In this article, we primarily refer to accipiters and buteos as ‘hawks’ in alignment with North American terminology. This usage reflects regional naming conventions and is not intended to overlook the taxonomic distinctions among these groups of birds of prey.
In Wisconsin, you can spot 9 distinct types of hawks: the Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Harrier, and the Swainson’s Hawk.
Curious about where to find them in Wisconsin, and what makes each species unique? Continue reading to discover more.
1. Red-tailed Hawk
- Scientific name: Buteo jamaicensis
- Length: 17.7-25.6 in
- Weight: 24.3-51.5 oz
- Wingspan: 44.9-52.4 in
Red-tailed Hawks are probably the most common hawks in the U.S. with almost 2 million nesting hawks in North America. This number accounts for about 90% of the global Red-tailed Hawk population.
These large hawks live in Wisconsin and most of North America all year long. The northern parts of Wisconsin have a breeding population of Red-tailed Hawks and those birds may fly further south in the winter.
