

These raptors occur in two color morphs: a light and a dark morph. The Short-tailed Hawk is primarily a species of Central and South America, but also has a small breeding population in North America located in Florida. The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most common hawk species in North America, and is a year-round resident throughout its range. It feeds on rodents and other small animals that it catches by swooping down from its perch when they venture out into the open. It is most often seen perched on roadside posts or fences, waiting for prey.

This large hawk is common in open grassland and also in cities.

However, almost all Red-tailed Hawks can be recognized by their rusty red tail. This common raptor has 3 different color morphs (light, dark, and intermediate), and while some individuals are almost entirely reddish brown, the light morph is largely white, and also has a white belly. With a wingspan of up to 52 in (4.5 ft), the Red-tailed Hawk is one of the larger species of hawks in North America. Similar to kestrels, they like to hunt by “kiting,” which involves using the wind to hover in a fixed position, as they wait for prey to appear on the ground below. They predominantly feed on lizards and small snakes, as well as insects and rodents. These raptors are only found in southern Texas, where they occur in the coastal prairies close to the Mexican border. These raptors are easily recognizable by their distinct markings, which include a white underside, bright white tail with a dark band at its ends, dark wings, as well as rufous brown shoulder patches. Scientific name: Geranoaetus albicaudatus These birds of prey feed on rodents and other small mammals, with prairie dogs forming a large part of their diet. The light morph is easily identifiable by its bright white underside, gray head, and rusty brown upperparts. While it occurs in two color morphs (light and dark), the more common of these is the light morph. This hawk is a breeding bird in northern parts of the western United States, and is a winter bird in southwestern states outside of the breeding season, as well as in Central America. With a wingspan of up to 56 inches, it is the largest hawk in North America. The Ferruginous Hawk is a very large buteo of the western prairies and deserts. They are strictly migratory birds that spend the winter in Argentina. Swainson’s Hawks are summer visitors throughout the western half of North America, where they can be seen from April through September. In fall they gather in flocks numbering in the tens of thousands that migrate south together, often together with other raptor species, such as Broad-winged Hawks. These raptors have long, narrow wings, and are best identified by their brown chest, which contrasts with their white belly, underwings and chin.Īnother distinguishing feature of these hawks are their striped tail feathers. The Swainson’s Hawk is a compact buteo species that frequents dry prairies and open areas in western North America. Let’s dive into the details, and take a closer look at each of these white-bellied raptors: Swainson’s Hawk
White moroh mississippi kite full#
There are 9 types of hawks in North America that have a white belly, and these are described in full detail below. To help you identify the bird you saw, we’ll cover the most common hawks with white bellies in North America in this article. Identifying hawks with a white underside is not as easy as it might seem, since there are many raptors in North America that fit this description. Did you recently come across a hawk with a white belly, and want to know what species it was?
