The Canadian Peregrine Foundation

Raptor Species Identification and Photo Gallery

 

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    • Click on the photos of each species below for our photo gallery of that species and for more information concerning it. For more help in identifying different species, please see our Identification tips, found below the galleries on this page (Click here to go directly to the Identification tips).

    Please note that neither this section as a whole, nor the individual parts of it, is exhaustive. There are many raptor species, including some indigenous to North America, that are not included in the present version. If you have photographs or information about any raptor species, please feel encouraged to send e-mail to the Canadian Peregrine Foundation.

    (See also the slot gacor , with Illustrations and brief descriptions of all raptors in the northeastern states.)

    If you are looking for photographs of owls, Visit the slot gacor

     

    Scroll down, or click below for direct access:
    Falcons --- Hawks --- Eagles --- Other Raptors

     

    FALCONS
    Peregrine
    Gyrfalcon
    Saker
    Kestrel
    Merlin

     

    HAWKS

    BUTEOS

    ACCIPITERS
    Broad-winged
    		 
    Sharp-shinned
    Red-shouldered
    		 
    Cooper's
    Red-tailed
    		 
    Goshawk
    Swainson's
    		   

     

    EAGLES
    Golden Eagle
    Bald Eagle
    Harpy Eagle

     

    OTHER RAPTORS
    Marsh Harrier
    Northern Harrier
    Turkey Vulture
    Osprey

     

    IDENTIFICATION TIPS

    From each category below, try to identify the species that match best with your observations. In most cases this should narrow down the possibilities to just a couple of species.  Once these have been selected, go back to the galleries of species at the top of this page, and visit the pages to which the photos lead for more information.

    size shape colour location habitat behaviour

    Size:
    Try to estimate the size of the bird.  The easiest way is often to compare it to a common bird.   Some commonly used reference birds are listed in the table below.

    A raptor similar in size to a: ...is likely to be a:
    Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Rock Dove (Pigeon), Common Grackle<Shape:
    When perched, most raptors have a similar upright posture.  However, in flight the shape of their wings and tail can be very helpful for identification. 

    Flight shape Species
    Long, narrow wings, generally pointed toward the tips.  Moderately long tail, usually narrow, but can be flared wide occasionally. American Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Gyrfalcon
    Short, broad wings, with rounded tips.  Long narrow tails. Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk
    Broad wings, relatively long, and rounded at the tips.  Tails short and broad. Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk

    Colour:
    Often the most obvious feature of a bird at first is its plumage.   Observing the colours and patterns on a raptor can help greatly in identification.
    There are two sections below. The first relates characteristics to species exhibiting that characteristic. The second relates each species to the characteristics it exhibits.

    sorted by characteristic
    Characteristic Species
    Back Wings  
    dull brown dull brown immature Merlin, adult female Merlin, immature Peregrine Falcon, immature accipiters (Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk), Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, immature Red-shouldered Hawk
    rusty brown rusty brown female American Kestrel
    rusty brown blue male American Kestrel
    mottled red/gray/black mottled red/gray/black adult Red-shouldered Hawk
    blue-gray blue-gray adult Peregrine Falcon, adult accipiters (Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk)
    Underparts  
    vertical brown streaks immature Peregrine Falcon, immature accipiters (Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk)
    upper breast mostly unmarked; horizontal black barring further down adult Peregrine Falcon
    horizontal reddish-brown barring adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, adult Cooper's Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk
    fine horizontal gray barring adult Northern Goshawk
    upper breast dark brown; lower parts mostly white with some speckling Swainson's Hawk
    upper breast pale with light speckling or streaking; dark band across belly (sometimes incomplete) Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk (light phase)
    solid dark brown Rough-legged Hawk (dark phase)
    Iris  
    yellow immature accipiters (Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk), Red-tailed Hawk, immature Broad-winged Hawk, immature Red-shouldered Hawk, 
    orange/red adult accipiters (Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk)
    dark brown/black American Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Gyrfalcon, adult Broad-winged Hawk, adult Red-shouldered Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk

     

    sorted by species
    Raptors Characteristics
      Back/Wings Underparts Iris
    immature Peregrine Falcon, immature Merlin, adult female Merlin Solid brown back whitish underparts with moderate to heavy vertical brown streaking black
    immature Red-shouldered Hawk, immature Broad-winged Hawk Mottled brown back whitish underparts with moderate to heavy vertical brown streaking yellow
    immature accipiters (Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk) Solid brown back whitish underparts with moderate to heavy vertical brown streaking yellow
    adult Peregrine Falcon Blue-gray back mostly unmarked white to salmon breast; moderate black barring across rest of underparts. (Distinct malar stripe (mustache) on face) black
    adult Sharp-shinned Hawk, adult Cooper's Hawk Blue-gray back underparts covered in moderate to heavy reddish-brown barring orange/red
    adult Northern Goshawk Blue-gray back underparts covered in fine gray barring (prominent white line over eye) orange/red
    adult male Merlin Blue-gray back vertical brown streaking on breast black
    male American Kestrel Blue wings contrasting with rusty brown back rusty brown above with black speckles below black
    female American Kestrel Rusty brown back and wings breast white with vertical rusty brown streaks black
    adult Red-tailed Hawk Dull brown back and wings upper breast white with brown speckles; partial to complete dark band across lower belly; tail red above, pinkish-red below. yellow
    immature Red-tailed Hawk Dull brown back and wings upper breast white with brown speckles; partial to complete dark band across lower belly; tail barred white and brown. yellow
    adult Red-shouldered Hawk mottled red/gray/black breast heavily barred with red dark brown/black
    adult Broad-winged Hawk brown breast heavily barred with red dark brown/black

    Location:
    Many raptors are migratory, and thus have the potential to appear in areas far outside of their normal distribution.  For the most part, however, the range of possibilities can be narrowed down by consulting the range maps of any field guide.  Most of the species discussed on this page are widespread across much of North America; notable exceptions are the Gyrfalcon (restricted to the Arctic in summer and rarely south of Canada even in winter), the Swainson's Hawk (primarily western), the Broad-winged Hawk (primarily eastern), and the Red-shouldered Hawk (primarily eastern, plus in California).

    Habitat:
    Most raptors are somewhat adaptable in the range of habitats they frequent, but are more typically found in certain areas, as follows:

    Habitat Most likely species
    Forest interior Merlin, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk
    Forest edges Merlin, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk
    Agricultural lands / other open areas American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Gyrfalcon (also Turkey Vulture)
    Wetlands Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon (also other raptors such as Bald Eagle, Osprey, Northern Harrier)
    Residential areas American Kestrel, Merlin, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk
    Industrial areas American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk
    City centres American Kestrel, Merlin, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon (also Turkey Vulture)

    Behaviour:
    Observing the way in which any bird acts can often reveal some diagnostic clues.  Among raptors, these are some of the more useful behaviours for identification purposes: 

    Behaviour Species
    High altitude, high speed vertical stoop (dive) at prey Peregrine Falcon
    Low level stoop at prey American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk
    Hovering American Kestrel, Rough-legged Hawk, (occasionally Red-tailed Hawk)
    Perching on roadside fence posts / lamp posts / poles / wires American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson's Hawk (occasionally Broad-winged Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk)
    Hunting at bird feeders Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk
    Low level rapid pursuit of prey Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Gyrfalcon
    Nesting in eavestrough / roof / other building cavities American Kestrel
    Nesting in spruce or other conifer Merlin, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk
    Nesting in deciduous tree Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk
    Nesting on a cliff Peregrine Falcon, Gyrfalcon

     

    Still confused?  E-mail us as complete a description as possible and/or a photograph of the bird, and we'll try to assist with the identification.

     

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