Skip to main content

Wildlife Guide · Worldwide except Antarctica

Hawk

Family Accipitridae — ~250 species including buzzards, kites and true hawks (genus Accipiter)

The versatile raptors of field and forest — sharp-eyed hunters on every continent.

Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered)
A red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) soaring in open flight directly toward the camera against a clear blue sky, wings fully spread showing brown upper plumage and pale barred flight feathers

Image: Photo: Frank Schulenburg / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

In brief

Hawks are birds of prey in the family Accipitridae — roughly 250 species worldwide; they hunt by sight using talons and hooked beaks, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered depending on species.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated

Hawk is the common name for birds of prey in the family Accipitridae, a diverse group of roughly 250 species found on every continent except Antarctica. In North America, 'hawk' often refers to buteos — broad-winged soaring hunters such as the red-tailed hawk — and accipiters — forest specialists such as the sharp-shinned hawk. In Europe, 'hawk' overlaps with buzzards and kites. Hawks hunt by sight, using powerful talons and hooked beaks to kill birds, mammals, reptiles and insects. Conservation status varies: the red-tailed hawk is abundant, while the Ridgway's hawk of Hispaniola is Critically Endangered with fewer than 300 individuals.

~250

Accipitridae species worldwide

8×

Visual acuity compared with humans (typical raptor)

Varies

IUCN status from Least Concern to Critically Endangered

Appendix I/II

CITES listing for many species

Figures sourced from IUCN Red List — Accipitridae assessments, BirdLife International — Data Zone, Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds .

Hawk: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Hawk
Species ~250 Accipitridae species worldwide
Vision ~8× sharper than human sight
Groups Buteos (soaring), accipiters (forest), kites, buzzards
Diet Carnivorous — rodents, birds, reptiles, insects
Threat Rodenticide poisoning increasingly significant
CITES Appendix I or II for many species

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Hawk
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Accipitriformes
Family Accipitridae

Conservation Status

IUCN Status
Varies by species. Red-tailed hawk and common buzzard Least Concern; Ridgway's hawk Critically Endangered.
Population
Varies — red-tailed hawk pairs number in the millions in North America
Trend
Stable for common species; decreasing for island and forest specialists
Assessed
Varies by species
CITES
Appendix I or II for many species

Key Facts: Hawk

  • Hawks belong to Accipitridae — a family of roughly 250 raptor species worldwide.
  • Buteos soar on broad wings; accipiters manoeuvre through forest with short wings and long tails.
  • Raptors see roughly eight times more sharply than humans.
  • Rodenticide poisoning kills hawks that eat contaminated prey — a major modern threat.
  • The red-tailed hawk is among the most abundant raptors in North America.
  • Habitat loss and persecution remain threats for forest and island hawk species.

What counts as a hawk?

'Hawk' is a loose common name rather than a strict taxonomic group. In North America it typically covers buteos (genus Buteo — red-tailed, red-shouldered and broad-winged hawks) and accipiters (genus Accipiter — sharp-shinned, Cooper's and goshawks). In Europe, 'hawk' often includes buzzards (Buteo) and sometimes kites and harriers. All belong to Accipitridae alongside eagles, kites and Old World vultures. Hawks share hooked beaks, powerful talons, keen eyesight and carnivorous diets, but vary enormously in size — from the 100 g sharp-shinned hawk to the 1.4 kg red-tailed hawk. When people search 'hawk' they may mean a soaring buteo, a woodland accipiter or a European buzzard — WARN's eagle, osprey and falcon guides help distinguish the wider raptor guild.

Hunting and senses

Hawks hunt primarily by sight, detecting prey from hundreds of metres while soaring or perched. Raptor vision is roughly eight times sharper than human sight, with a higher density of colour-sensitive cones. Buteos soar on thermals, scanning open country for rodents, rabbits and reptiles. Accipiters dash through woodland on short, rounded wings and long tails, ambushing birds. Hawks kill with talons — the red-tailed hawk's grip exceeds 200 psi — and dismember prey with hooked beaks. Many species pair for life and reuse nest sites for decades.

Threats to raptors

Modern threats to hawks include rodenticide poisoning — hawks eat rats and mice that have consumed anticoagulant poisons, leading to internal bleeding and death. Habitat loss removes nesting trees and hunting grounds. Persecution — shooting and trapping — persists in some regions despite legal protection. Wind turbines and power lines cause collision mortality. The Ridgway's hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) of Hispaniola is Critically Endangered with fewer than 300 individuals due to habitat loss and nest parasitism by palmchat birds.

What WARN Does

WARN publishes this hawk guide as free public education. Rodenticide poisoning and habitat loss threaten raptors worldwide — issues that connect to the broader ecosystem health WARN works to protect.

If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.

Support Habitat Protection Donate to WARN

How does the hawk compare?

Eagle vs Hawk →Falcon vs Hawk →Owl vs Hawk →

Hawk: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a hawk and an eagle?
Eagles are generally larger with broader wings and heavier beaks. Hawks (buteos and accipiters) are typically smaller and more manoeuvrable. Both belong to Accipitridae — the distinction is size and ecology, not taxonomy.

How well can hawks see?
Raptors see roughly eight times more sharply than humans, with higher cone density for colour vision. A red-tailed hawk can spot a mouse from 30 m while soaring at 300 m altitude.

Are hawks endangered?
Most common hawks — red-tailed hawk, common buzzard — are Least Concern. Island and forest specialists such as Ridgway's hawk are Critically Endangered. Status varies by species.

What do hawks eat?
Hawks eat rodents, rabbits, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects depending on species. Buteos favour mammals; accipiters specialise in catching other birds in flight.

Do hawks mate for life?
Many hawk species form long-term pair bonds and reuse the same nest site for years. Both parents typically incubate eggs and feed chicks.

Where do hawks live?
Hawks live in Worldwide except Antarctica. Hawks are birds of prey in the family Accipitridae — roughly 250 species worldwide; they hunt by sight using talons and hooked beaks, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered depending on species.

Are hawks dangerous?
Hawks are not generally dangerous to people. Hawks are birds of prey in the family Accipitridae — roughly 250 species worldwide; they hunt by sight using talons and hooked beaks, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered depending on species. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

How long do hawks live?
A precise wild lifespan for hawks is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. Hawks are birds of prey in the family Accipitridae — roughly 250 species worldwide; they hunt by sight using talons and hooked beaks, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered depending on species. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

How big is a hawk?
A Hawk is about Varies (IUCN status from Least Concern to Critically Endangered). Hawks are birds of prey in the family Accipitridae — roughly 250 species worldwide; they hunt by sight using talons and hooked beaks, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered depending on species. Conservation status: Rodenticide poisoning increasingly significant.

Sources & References

Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.

Terms used on this page

Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.

Explore More Species

Every animal in our network faces a crisis. Learn about the others.

View all wildlife guides
Support Habitat Protection