Local Raptors
Raptors found in North Carolina
The Red Tail Hawk
A large stocky hawk. Typical light-phase birds have whitish breast and rust-colored tail. Young birds duller, more streaked, lacking rust-colored tail of adult; they are distinguished from Red-shouldered and Swainson's hawks by their stocky build, broader, more rounded wings, and white chest. This species quite variable in color, especially in West, where blackish individuals occur; these usually retain rusty tail.
Habitat
Deciduous forests and open country of various kinds, including tundra, plains, and farmlands.
Range
Breeds throughout North America, from Alaska east to Nova Scotia and southward. Winters across United States north to southern British Columbia and Maritime Provinces.
Discussion
The Red-tail is the most common and widespread American member of the genus Buteo, which also includes the Red-shouldered, Swainson's, and Gray hawks, among others. Like other hawks of this group, it soars over open country in search of its prey but just as often perches in a tree at the edge of a meadow, watching for the slightest movement in the grass below. The Red-tail rarely takes poultry, feeding mainly on small rodents. Certain western birds with grayish, faintly streaked or mottled tails were formerly considered a separate species called "Harlan's Hawk."
Nesting
2 or 3 white eggs, spotted with brown, in a bulky nest of sticks lined with shreds of bark and bits of fresh green vegetation, placed in a tall tree or on a rock ledge.
Red Shoulder Hawk
A large, long-winged hawk with white barring on dark wings, rusty shoulders, pale underparts barred with rust, and narrowly banded tail. In flight shows translucent area near tip of wing, visible from below. Young birds streaked below; best distinguished from young Red-tailed Hawks by somewhat smaller size, narrower tail, longer, narrower wings, and absence of white chest. The Red-shouldered Hawk prefers lowlands, especially swampy woods and bogs. There it hunts by watching quietly from a low perch, dropping down to capture snakes and frogs. It also eats insects and small mammals. Normally shy, these birds become tame if they are not persecuted and in some places may nest in suburban areas. During courtship a pair can be quite noisy, wheeling in the sky above their nesting territory and uttering their distinctive whistled scream.
Habitat
Deciduous woodlands, especially where there is standing water.
Range
Breeds from Minnesota east to New Brunswick and south to Gulf Coast and Florida, and on Pacific Coast in California. Winters in breeding range north to southern New England.
Nesting
2 or 3 white eggs, spotted with brown, in a large mass of leaves and twigs placed 20-60' (6-18 m) up in a forest tree.
Northern Goshawk
A robust hawk with a long narrow tail, short rounded wings, and bold white eyebrow. Adults blue-gray above with a black crown; pale underparts finely barred with gray. Young bird similar in size and shape, but brown above, streaked below. This big raptor is mainly a resident of mountainside coniferous forests. It is fearless in defense of its nest and will boldly attack anyone who ventures too close. It has recently begun extending its range to the South and now breeds in small numbers in deciduous forests.
Habitat
Breeds in coniferous forests; winters in farmlands, woodland edges, and open country.
Range
Breeds from Alaska east through Mackenzie and northern Quebec to Newfoundland, and south to New Mexico, Great Lakes, and New England; also southward to northern Appalachians. Winters south to Virginia and Southwest.
Nesting
3 or 4 white or pale bluish eggs in a large mass of sticks lined with fresh sprigs of evergreen and placed in a tree.
Northern Harrier
A long-winged, long-tailed hawk with a white rump, usually seen gliding unsteadily over marshes with its wings held in a shallow V. Male has pale gray back, head, and breast; wing tips black. Female and young are brown above, streaked below, young birds with a rusty tone. This is the only North American member of a group of hawks known as harriers. All hunt by flying close to the ground and taking small animals by surprise. They seldom pursue their prey in the air or watch quietly from an exposed perch, as do other birds of prey. Harriers have keener hearing than other hawks; their disk-shaped faces, not unlike those of owls, enable them to amplify sound. This species is often known as the Marsh Hawk.
Habitat
Marshes and open grasslands.
Range
Breeds from Alaska, northern Canada, and Maritime Provinces south to southern California, Arizona, Kansas, and Virginia. Winters from South America north to British Columbia, Great Lakes, and New Brunswick. Also in Eurasia.
Discussion
Nesting
4 or 5 pale blue or white eggs, unmarked or with light brown spots, on a mound of dead reeds and grass in a marsh or shrubby meadow.
Cooper's Hawk
A crow-sized hawk, with long tail and short rounded wings. Adult slate-gray above, with dark cap, and finely rust-barred below. Immature brown above, whitish below with fine streaks. Tail tip rounded, not squared-off. See Sharp-shinned Hawk. Like its smaller look-alike the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's feeds mainly on birds, which it chases relentlessly through the woods. It also takes small mammals and, in the West, lizards and snakes. During incubation and the early stages of brooding the young, the male bird does all the hunting, bringing food to both his mate and the nestlings. Cooper's Hawks mature rapidly for birds their size; a full 25 percent of young birds breed the year after they are hatched, and the rest the year after that.
Habitat
Deciduous and, less often, coniferous forests, especially those interrupted by meadows and clearings.
Range
Breeds from British Columbia east to Manitoba and Canadian Maritimes, and south to Mexico, Gulf Coast, and northern Florida; absent or local throughout much of Great Plains. Winters from Central America north to British Columbia and southern New England.
Nesting
4 or 5 dull-white eggs, spotted with brown, on a bulky platform of sticks and twigs, usually more than 20' (6 m) above the ground.
Broad Winged Hawk
A stocky, pigeon-sized hawk. Adult plain brown above, barred with rusty color below, with broad black-and-white tail bands. Immatures similar, but sparsely spotted or blotched below, and with tail bands less distinct. The Broad-winged Hawk is an eastern species, best known for its spectacular migrations; often thousands of birds travel together, with single flocks numbering up to several hundred individuals. Great numbers migrate along the eastern ridges in mid-September; more than 19,000 were counted in one day as they passed over the lookout at Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania. During breeding, this hawk is secretive or, rather, unobtrusive. It lives mainly in the woods, beneath the canopy or hidden among the foliage. Often one is made aware of it only through its call. Its food consists mainly of snakes, mice, frogs, and insects.
Habitat
Breeds mainly in deciduous woodlands.
Range
Breeds from Alberta east to Manitoba and Nova Scotia, south to Gulf Coast and Florida. Winters from southern Florida southward into tropics.
Nesting
3 or 4 white eggs, with irregular brown spots, in a nest of sticks lined with green leaves placed in the crotch of a tree.
The Great Horned Owl
The great horned owl is the largest owl found in North Carolina. They are known by the tufts on the top of their heads that resemble horns or ears. They actually do not help with hearing at all, but change orientation based on the mood of the owl. They have a wingspan of over 4 feet wide, and have tufts of feathers on their feet. They are powerful hunters, and have made enemies with poultry farmers as they've been known to take fowl for prey. They have also taken domestic cats as prey.
Screech Owl
The screech owl is one of the smallest owls in North Carolina at only about 9 inches in length. They look similar to the great horned owl, mainly due to their ear tufts. People commonly think that a screech owl is a baby great horned owl. Screech owls are found in two distinct morphs--red and gray. They make a notable cooing sound that differs from the common hooting people associate with owls.
Barred Owl
Barred owls are large, but not as large as great horned owls. They are gray and white, with stripes, which is where their name comes from. They do not have ear tufts. These owls are found in the moist humid environments in North Carolina, including swamps and river bottoms. They are often seen by humans, because they have adapted to live near cities and towns. They nest high in trees, and often will take over old abandoned hawks' nests as their own.
Barn Owl
Barn owls have a distinct look about them. Their faces are heart-shaped with no ear tufts, giving them the nickname monkey-faced owl. They have long exposed legs. The call of a barn owl is a loud hiss and shriek, again different from the typical hooting associated with owls. Barn owls are known for nesting in barns, silos and other man-made structures. The nests are reused by different barn owls every season.
Bald Eagle
A large blackish eagle with white head and tail and heavy yellow bill. Young birds lack the white head and tail, and resemble adult Golden Eagles, but are variably marked with white and have a black, more massive bill. Although the Bald Eagle eats carrion and sometimes catches crippled waterfowl, it is primarily a fish eater. Its beachcombing habit was its downfall, for it accumulated pesticides from contaminated fish and wildlife. Hunting, poaching, and the encroachment of civilization reduced its population drastically except on the rain forest coasts of Alaska and northern and central British Columbia. Now that the damaging pesticides have been banned, however, our national bird is staging a comeback.
Habitat
Lakes, rivers, marshes, and seacoasts.
Range
Breeds from Alaska east to Newfoundland and south locally to California, Great Lakes, and Virginia; also in Arizona, along Gulf Coast, and in Florida. Formerly more widespread. Winters along coasts and large rivers in much of United States.
Nesting
2 or 3 white eggs in a massive nest of sticks in a tall tree or, less frequently, on top of a cliff.
Golden Eagle
A large, all-dark eagle with a pale golden nape. Bill smaller and darker than that of Bald Eagle. In young birds, tail white at base, black at tip; white patches on undersides of wings. Common in much of the West, but have been known to migrate as far east as the western Carolinas, these majestic eagles prey mainly on jackrabbits and large rodents but will also feed on carrion. In some parts of their range Golden Eagles are not migratory but remain in their territories all year. The Golden Eagle has probably never been numerous in eastern North America; after long persecution, only a very few breeding pairs now survive. In recent years a few nests have been found, and some have produced young, but it is unlikely that the species will ever be more than a rarity in the eastern part of its range.
Habitat
Mountain forests and open grasslands; some winter on salt marshes in the East, found in any habitat during migration.
Range
Breeds from Alaska east across northern Canada south to Mexico, Canadian prairie provinces, and Labrador. Winters in southern part of breeding range and in much of United States, except Southeast. Also in Eurasia.
Nesting
1-4 whitish eggs, unmarked or lightly speckled with dark brown, in a large mass of sticks placed on a rocky ledge or in a tall tree.
Turkey Vulture
Eagle-sized blackish bird, usually seen soaring over the countryside. In flight, the long wings are held upward in a wide, shallow V; flight feathers silvery below. Tail long; head small, bare, and reddish; gray in immatures. Similar to Black Vulture, but wings narrower; flaps wings less frequently and rolls and sways from side to side. The most common and widespread of the New World vultures, this species nests throughout all of the United States except northern New England. Soaring for hours over woodland and nearby open country, the Turkey Vulture searches for carcasses, locating them at least partly by means of its acute sense of smell. As they soar, these "buzzards" ride on rising columns of warm air called thermals to save energy as they cover miles of territory. The importance of this energy saving is clear from the fact that we seldom see a Turkey Vulture on a windless day, when thermals do not form. Turkey Vultures are valuable for their removal of garbage and disease-causing carrion. At night they often gather in large roosts
Habitat
Mainly deciduous forests and woodlands; often seen over adjacent farmlands.
Range
Breeds from southern British Columbia, central Saskatchewan, Great Lakes, and New Hampshire southward. Winters in Southwest, and in East northward to southern New England.
Nesting
2 whitish eggs, heavily marked with dark brown, placed without nest or lining in a crevice in rocks, in a hollow tree, or in a fallen hollow log.
American Kestrel
A jay-sized falcon, often seen hovering. Recognizable in all plumages by rusty tail and back. Adult male has slate-blue wings. Female has rusty wings and back, narrow bands on tail. Both sexes have 2 black stripes on face. Unlike larger falcons, the "Sparrow Hawk" has adapted to humans and nests even in our largest cities, where it preys chiefly on House Sparrows. In the countryside it takes insects, small birds, and rodents, capturing its prey on the ground rather than in midair like other falcons. The female does most of the incubating and is fed by the male. The male calls as he nears the nest with food; the female flies to him, receives the food, and returns to the nest. After the eggs hatch, the male continues to bring most of the food. The young stay with the adults for a time after fledging, and it is not uncommon to see family parties in late summer.
Habitat
Towns and cities, parks, farmlands, and open country.
Range
Breeds from Alaska and Northwest Territories east through Maritime Provinces and south throughout continent. Winters north to British Columbia, Great Lakes, and New England. Also in American tropics.
Nesting
4 or 5 white or pinkish eggs, blotched with brown, placed without nest or lining in a natural or man-made cavity.
Merlin Falcon
A jay-sized falcon, stockier than American Kestrel. Slate colored (males) or brownish (females) above; light and streaked below. Long tail boldly banded. Lacks facial stripes of most other falcons. The so-called "Pigeon Hawk" is most abundant during the migrations of smaller birds, on which it feeds. It is swift and aggressive, regularly harassing larger hawks and gulls and attacking intruders at its nest. As with other falcons, the female begins incubating as soon as the first egg is laid so the young hatch at intervals; when food is scarce, the larger young are fed first, the smaller ones sometimes dying of starvation. This seemingly heartless procedure ensures that some young will be raised successfully even in hard times.
Habitat
Coniferous forests; more widespread in winter.
Range
Breeds from Alaska east through Mackenzie to Newfoundland and south to Wyoming, Montana, and northeastern Maine. Winters mainly in southern United States north along West Coast to British Columbia and on East Coast to southern New England; locally elsewhere north to southern Canada. Also in tropical America and Eurasia.
Nesting
5 or 6 buff eggs, stippled with purple and brown, placed in a tree cavity without a nest or lining, on a rocky ledge, or in an abandoned crow's nest.
Peregrine Falcon
A large robust falcon with a black hood and wide black "mustaches." Adults slate-gray above and pale below, with fine black bars and spots. Young birds brown or brownish slate above, heavily streaked below.
Following an alarming decline during the 1950s and 1960s, this spectacular falcon, also called the "Duck Hawk," is on the increase again, now that pesticides that caused thinning of eggshells have been banned. After an intensive program of rearing birds in captivity and releasing them in the wild (a process called "hacking"), this large falcon is reclaiming nesting grounds from which it disappeared a few decades ago. A favorite nesting site nowadays is a tall building or bridge in a city; these urban Peregrines subsist mainly on pigeons.
Habitat
Open country, especially along rivers; also near lakes, along coasts, and in cities. Migrates chiefly along coasts.
Range
Breeds from Alaska and Canadian Arctic south locally through mountainous West, and sparingly in East. Winters coastally, north to British Columbia and Massachusetts. Also in southern South America and Old World.
Nesting
2-4 cream or buff eggs, spotted with reddish brown, placed in a scrape with little lining on a cliff or building ledge or in an abandoned bird's nest.