Hawks
Eleven species of Hawks (not counting Eagles) are commonly seen in New Jersey. Some are year-round residents of the state, some are winter residents, others are seen only during the migration season, and the Osprey is typically in New Jersey from March to November, during the nesting season.
Buteos:
The Buteos are large, heavy Hawks with broad wings and wide, rounded tails. They often soar high in wide circles. The Red-tailed Hawk is a year-round resident of our area. Only the adult birds have a reddish tail (tails are brown on the immatures). All our Red-tails show a white breast and a brown belly band. The Broad-winged Hawk is a rare breeder in our area, however very large flocks migrate through our area in September. This bird is small (about the size of a crow) and shows light under wing feathers bordered by black. The Red-shouldered Hawk is typically seen in migration in March and October. This bird shows a translucent patch (or window) on the wings.
Falcons:
Falcons are streamlined birds of prey with pointed wings and a long tail. The American Kestrel is small, about the size of a jay; in fact it is the smallest North American hawk. It flies with a fluttery flight and often hovers. The Merlin is slightly larger and darker than the American Kestrel and has a direct, powerful flight. The Peregrine Falcon is a large Falcon with a wide black mustache. It is the fastest flying bird in the world.
Accipiters:
The Accipiter Hawks are long-tailed, woodland raptors with short, rounded wings adapted for hunting among trees. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is small with a square-tipped tail. It is only found in our area from September to May. The Cooper's Hawk is larger than the Sharp-shinned, having a large head and a rounded tail. The Cooper's Hawk is a year-round resident of New Jersey, however it is more common during the migration season. The Northern Goshawk is a much larger bird, and is typically observed from November to April. It always shows a white stripe over the eye.
Other Hawks:
Ospreys are large raptors that nest in our area near the shore (Sandy Hook is the best place to see them). They hover over water and plunge into it feet-first when hunting for fish. Northern Harriers are seen mostly during migration, however some do winter in the state. They are a long-winged and long-tailed bird, and show a white rump patch while in flight.
