![]() ![]() They’re generally more shy and secretive than other hawks and prefer to perch within the canopy, They primarily hunt small to medium sized birds, but has been known to take small mammals and sometimes reptiles as well. This hawk is especially agile and has the ability to hunt large and especially evasive prey. The Cooper’s Hawk distribution is pretty much identical to that of the Red-tailed Hawk in Michigan – year-round in the southern half of the state and breeding only in the northern half, although some will migrate to the southern parts of the country or all the way into Northern Mexico. This amazing bird migrates for the winter to Central and South America where it prefers to live at the edge of tropical forests. Its preferred habitat is quiet, expansive deciduous or mixed woodlands near bodies of water, which makes the Great Lakes ideal for them. They can be found year-round in the southern tips of both Florida and Louisiana as well as parts of Central America, Mexico, and Cuba. ![]() Broad-winged Hawks migrate in large flocks called “kettles” and can be seen by the thousands. They can commonly be seen around the Great Lakes during both spring and fall migration times. The Broad-winged Hawk’s breeding distribution includes most of the eastern United States, including Michigan. Roughlegs often concentrate in large numbers in areas where food is plentiful and can be found in larger groups than other species of hawk. Expansive agricultural lands and airports are most often used for nesting. The feathered legs they’re named for help conserve heat when in the arctic tundra and when wintering back in Michigan. You may also like: Are There Water Snakes in New Jersey? and southern Canada in open fields, prairies, deserts, and airports. The winter is when they can be seen in the U.S. The entire population migrates far north to arctic breeding grounds in northern Canada and parts of Alaska each year in the Spring. The Rough-legged hawk is named for the feathering pattern on its legs and has a non-breeding distribution throughout the entirety of the state of Michigan. ![]() Rough-legged Hawk Photo by: DickDaniels | CC 3.0 Forest thinning and the construction of highways have created prime open hunting areas, plus powerlines provide additional perches for hunting.ģ. They’ve received the fond nickname “roadside hawks” for their tendency to hunt alongside Interstate Highways and are the most commonly seen from the car – no bird watching required! This is a rare example of an animal that adapted very well to human presence and intervention. This species is also very widespread in North America and can be found in some capacity almost everywhere. This is similar to the Sharp-shinned Hawks, but their breeding distribution is larger and there are fewer stationary hawks that choose to stay within the state. Red-tailed Hawks reside in the southern half of Michigan year-round and travel to the northern half for breeding. This is one of the reasons this species is classified as “destructive” among ornithologists. If they do this in your own backyard, you’ll definitely hear the alarm calls among the gathered songbirds. Their main food source is songbirds, so it isn’t uncommon for them to hunt at backyard bird feeders. During migration, they can be found in open habitats and prefer to migrate along ridgelines. Within Michigan, you can most easily identify this bird by its distinctive “flap and glide” method. Whether they are just passing through for migration or are stationary residents, these hawks can be found almost everywhere throughout North America. Sharp-shinned Hawks are year-round residents to Michigan, other than the northern tip that is primarily for breeding. Sharp-shinned Hawk Photo by: Dennis Murphy | CC 2.0 These hawks are the Sharp-shinned hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Harrier, and the Northern Goshawk.īelow is a list of these species of hawks found in the state of Michigan with pictures to help you identify each one. There are 8 species of hawks in Michigan. We’ll talk about where you might be able to spot them in the state, look at some pictures, and look at some fun facts for each species. In this article we’ll cover some of the birds of prey found in Michigan, namely hawks in Michigan. It’s a great state for bird watching and wildlife spotting. This includes a number of different species of birds. Michigan is located between two of the great lakes, Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife. ![]()
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