8 Types Of Hawks In New Jersey

Hawk is a term used for a large group of birds of prey that belongs to the order Falconiformes. As of now, there are currently 270 species of hawks known to humans that can be seen on all continents except Antarctica. The large bird species loves to thrive in marshes, forests, rainforests, prairies, open savannas, grasslands, mountains, and coastal regions. We will discuss the types of hawks in new jersey,

Only fewer species are endangered such as Cooper’s hawk because of chemical pollution which induces the destruction of the eggs. The smallest known hawk is American Kestrel which only weighs 4 ounces and the largest known hawk is Ferruginous Hawk which weighs upto 5 pounds. Here is the list of 8 specific types of hawks in new jersey,

Hawks In New Jersey

1. Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk is small hawk species in Wisconsin that belong to the family Accipitridae and are a member of the genus Accipiter. One of the most common hawks in new jersey is known for its blue-grey upperparts and rufous bars on white underparts. The eyes are dark red in color, however, the wings are short and rounded. The legs and feet are yellow in color.

The adult hawk species pass the food to young ones in mid-air and they are most visible during migration. A group of Sharp-shinned Hawks is also known as “boil”, “knot”, “spiralling”, “stream”, and “tower” of hawks. The avarage lifespan of the small hawk species is five or more years of age and feeds mainly on birds at bird feeders.

Also Read: 10 Scavenger Birds In The World

2. Cooper’s Hawk

Cooper’s Hawk is also one of the types of hawks in Minnesota and New Jersey and mostly preys on other birds. The medium size hawk species are mostly seen in the North American continent and found from southern Canada to Mexico. Cooper’s Hawk was named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in honor of his friend and fellow ornithologist, William Cooper in the year 1828. Cooper’s Hawk is also known as big blue darter, chicken hawk, flying cross, hen hawk, quail hawk, striker, and swift hawk. The avarage lifespan of the species is still unknown and mostly feeds on birds and small mammals.

Image Source: Wikimedia

3. Red-shouldered Hawk

The red-shouldered Hawk is also a medium-size hawk species mostly seen in new jersey and areas such as eastern North America and along the coast of California and northern to northeastern-central Mexico. It can grow upto 15-25 inches long with a total wingspan of 35-50 inches. The avarage lifespan of the bird species is 20 years and weighs around 1-2 pounds. It loves to eat rodents, rabbits, small snakes, lizards, birds, frogs, insects, crayfish, and fish. It is also seen eating carrion, such as road-killed deer. The population of the species is decreasing because of deforestation.

Image Source: Wikimedia

4. Broad-winged Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk is a small type of hawk and stocky haw species that can grow upto 34 to 44 cm long and weigh 265 to 560 g. The total wingspan of the bird species is 81 to 100 cm. Talking about the appearance, it has a dark brown back and a pale chest and belly with horizontal cinnamon or chestnut stripes. The tail of the hawk species is black and white across the middle portion of the body.

The breeding region of the bird species is throughout the eastern United States and most of southern Canada, however, in winters they breed across southern Florida, the Pacific slope of southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. The hawk species mostly feeds on frogs, lizards, and nes mistitling birds.

5. Red-tailed Hawk

The red-tailed Hawk is a medium size bird of prey mostly seen across different regions of America. The species love to thrive in deserts, grasslands, forests, agricultural fields, and urban areas. Red-tailed Hawk mostly feeds on small mammals, including rodents and rabbits. They also eat birds, reptiles, fish, and insects. They are known for stealing prey from other raptors.

The wieght of the species varies from a minimum of 600 grams to a maximum of 1.6 kg. It is also listed among the largest Buteo hawks in North America followed by the Ferruginous Hawk. They have sharp eyesight which is eight times better than a human’s. The average lifespan of the species is 10 to 15 years in the wild.

6. Rough-legged Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk also known as the rough-legged buzzard is a medium-sized bird of prey mostly seen in the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Russia, especially during the breeding season. The hawk species used to hunt over open land and primarily fed on small mammals. It loves to feed on rodents, especially on lemmings and voles. It can grow upto 18.5-20.5 in (47-52 cm) and weighs around 25.2-49.4 oz (715-1400 g). The total wingspan of the species is 52.0-54.3 in (132-138 cm).

Image Source: Wikimedia

7. Northern Harrier

Northern Harrier is a large hawk species known to have grey upperparts, white rump, and white underparts with spotted breasts. The hawk species breed in the regions of North America from Alaska east to subarctic Newfoundland and Labrador and south to the northern states.

It uses its sense of hearing to help locate prey and has a similar appearance to an owl-like facial disk along with soft feathers for a quieter flight. A group of harriers flying together is known as a “swarm” and a “harassment” of harriers. The name of the hawk species has been derived from the old English word “herigan” which means to harass or plunder.

Image Source: Wikimedia

8. Northern Goshawk

Northern Goshawk is a bird of prey that belongs to the family of eagles. As of now, 10 species of hawks are known to humans that prefer temperate areas of North America, Europe, and Asia. It can grow upto 18 to 27 inches in length and weighs around 1.1 to 4.85 pounds of weight.

Talking about the appearance, the upper part of the body is covered with bluish-grey or brown plumage. Neck, throat, and bellies are light grey or white-colored. It is a diurnal animal which means it is only active during the day and is also a solitary bird except during the mating season. The avarage lifespan of the bird species is 19 years in the wild.

Also Read: 12 Largest Eagles in the World By Wingspan & Length