20 Majestic Hawks With Striped Tails [Images + IDs]

When we think of hawks, we often picture majestic birds of prey soaring through the skies with keen eyes and sharp talons. But have you ever encountered hawks with striped tails? These remarkable raptors add a touch of intrigue to the world of hawks, and in this blog post, we’re going to unravel their fascinating story.

Join us on a journey into the world of hawks with striped tails, where we’ll explore what makes them stand out, where they roam, and how they hunt. Get ready to be captivated by these feathered wonders as we discover the extraordinary in the ordinary world of hawks.

List of 20 Hawks with Striped Tails

Gray hawk

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Buteo plagiatus
• Lifespan:10-15 years
• Origin: Native to North America
• Size: Length 16-20 inches, wingspan 35-39 inches

The Gray Hawk is a medium-sized raptor found in parts of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. Adult Gray Hawks have predominantly gray upperparts and wings, with a rufous-brown back and a rufous-barred tail. They have a white throat and underparts with fine gray barring on the chest and belly.

These hawks typically inhabit riparian woodlands, including wooded streamside habitats and forests near water sources. They are skilled hunters, preying on a diet of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. Their hunting style often involves perching and waiting for prey to pass by or hunting from elevated perches.

Gray Hawks are known for their distinct calls, including a series of melodious whistles and vocalizations. They are often heard before they are seen and are appreciated by birdwatchers for their unique habitat preferences and striking plumage.

Black Harrier

• Scientific name: Circus maurus
• Lifespan: Information not readily available.
• Wingspan: Information not readily available.
• Native to: Southern Africa, particularly in open grasslands and shrublands.

The Black Harrier is a striking and enigmatic raptor native to southern Africa. Adult Black Harriers are known for their predominantly black plumage, with white stripes on their rump, base of the tail, and wings. They have a distinctive white patch on their rump, which is often visible during flight.

These harriers are primarily found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, fynbos, and scrubland in South Africa and Namibia. They are known for their low, quartering flight pattern as they search for prey, which mainly consists of small mammals, birds, and insects. They are also known for their remarkable hunting behavior, where they use their wings to create shade to flush out potential prey.

Black Harriers are often seen gliding low over the landscape, particularly during their hunting flights. They are considered an emblematic and iconic bird species of southern Africa.

Long-winged Harrier

• Scientific name: Circus buffoni
• Lifespan: Typically around 7 to 10 years
• Wingspan: Approximately 95 to 110 cm (37.4 to 43.3 inches)
• Native to: South America, inhabiting savannas and wetlands.

The Long-winged Harrier, also known as Buffon’s Harrier, is a striking raptor found in parts of South America. Adult Long-winged Harriers have a distinctive appearance, featuring mostly pale gray-blue upperparts with black wingtips, a rufous-streaked breast, and white underparts. They have long wings and a striking white rump that is visible in flight.

These harriers inhabit a range of open habitats, including grasslands, marshes, and wetlands, across their South American range. They are skilled hunters, preying on a variety of small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Long-winged Harriers are known for their low and buoyant flight as they search for prey, often flying at a moderate height above the landscape.

They are also known for their nesting behaviors, with females building nests on the ground and often lining them with grasses. Long-winged Harriers are captivating birds for birdwatchers and are recognized for their striking plumage and distinctive flight patterns.

Gymnogene

• Scientific name: Polyboroides typus
• Lifespan: Information not readily available.
• Wingspan: Information not readily available.
• Native to: Sub-Saharan Africa, often found in woodland and savanna habitats.

The Gymnogene, also known as the African Harrier-Hawk, is a medium-sized raptor native to sub-Saharan Africa. Gymnogenes are known for their unique and distinctive appearance. They have a mostly white head and underparts, with a grayish-black mantle and wings. These have a long striped tail, and they have bare facial skin and a patch of bright yellow skin around their eyes, giving them a striking and unusual look.

Gymnogenes are versatile predators and scavengers, known for their ability to twist their heads and feet into tree cavities to extract prey such as insects, birds, and small mammals. They are also known to feed on carrion. Their behavior often involves perching in trees and scanning for prey.

These raptors are typically found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, savannas, and urban areas. They are known for their agility and strong flying abilities. Gymnogenes are social birds and are often seen in pairs or small family groups.

Madagascar Marsh Harrier

• Scientific name: Circus maillardi
• Lifespan: Information not readily available.
• Wingspan: Information not readily available.
• Native to: Madagascar, primarily in wetlands and grasslands.

The Madagascar Marsh Harrier is a bird of prey endemic to Madagascar, making it a unique and specialized species. Adult Madagascar Marsh Harriers have a distinctive appearance with dark brown to blackish upperparts and wings. They have a rufous head and neck, and their underparts are pale with rufous streaking.

These harriers are typically found in wetland habitats, including marshes, reedbeds, and rice paddies, across Madagascar. They are skilled hunters, preying on a diet of small mammals, birds, and amphibians, often using their keen eyesight to locate prey from the air or while perched.

Madagascar Marsh Harriers are known for their soaring flight and are often seen gliding low over wetlands as they search for prey. They are a unique and specialized species within Madagascar’s avian fauna, adapted to their specific habitats on the island.

Cooper’s Hawk:

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Accipiter cooperii
• Lifespan: 7-12 years
• Origin: Native to North America
• Size: Length 14-20 inches, wingspan 24-35 inches

Cooper’s Hawk is a medium-sized hawk native to North America. Adult Cooper’s Hawks have a distinctive appearance with blue-gray upperparts and reddish barring on their underparts. They have a rounded tail with thick black bands, and their wings are relatively short. Adults also feature a dark cap on their heads.

These hawks primarily inhabit wooded habitats, including forests, woodlots, and suburban areas. They are agile and fast-flying birds known for their skill in pursuing and capturing small to medium-sized birds, such as pigeons and doves. Their hunting behavior often involves rapid and stealthy attacks on songbirds.

Cooper’s Hawks are known for their ability to maneuver through dense vegetation and are sometimes seen perching stealthily near bird feeders in urban and suburban areas to ambush their prey. They are appreciated by birdwatchers for their striking plumage and hunting behaviors.

Northern Harrier:

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Circus hudsonius
• Lifespan: 7 years (on average)
• Origin: Native to North America
• Size: Length 18-24 inches, wingspan 40-48 inches

The Northern Harrier is a medium-sized raptor found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Adult Northern Harriers have a distinctive appearance with white underparts and mottled brown upperparts. They have a distinctive facial disk, similar to that of owls, which aids in locating prey by sound. Males are grayish with a white rump, while females are brown with a streaked belly.

Northern Harriers are often found in open habitats, including marshes, grasslands, and coastal areas. They are skilled hunters, preying on a diet of small mammals, birds, and amphibians. Their hunting behavior involves low, slow, and gliding flights, often hovering low over the ground while searching for prey.

These harriers are known for their distinctive flight style and are often seen quartering back and forth over open landscapes. They are appreciated by birdwatchers for their unique appearance and hunting behaviors.

Pallid Harrier

• Scientific name: Circus macrourus
• Lifespan: Typically around 6 to 10 years
• Wingspan: Approximately 100 to 120 cm (39.4 to 47.2 inches)
• Native to: Eurasia, especially in grasslands and wetlands.

The Pallid Harrier is a striking raptor that is known for its pale plumage and graceful flight. Adult male Pallid Harriers have a distinctive appearance with a pale gray-blue back and wings, which contrasts with their white underparts. They have a distinctive black wingtip pattern and striking black markings around their eyes, resembling a mask and a striped tail. Adult females, on the other hand, are slightly larger and have a more extensive brown coloration with streaked underparts.

Pallid Harriers are known for their agility in flight. They often hunt by gliding low over open grasslands and wetlands, searching for small mammals, birds, and insects. These harriers are migratory birds, breeding in the grasslands and wetlands of northern Eurasia and wintering in parts of Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. During the breeding season, males perform aerial displays to attract females.

Their graceful flight and pale plumage make the Pallid Harrier a distinctive and appealing bird for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Red-Shouldered Hawk:

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Buteo lineatus
• Lifespan: 4-8 years
• Origin: Native to North America, found in parts of the United States and Mexico
• Size: Length 17-24 inches, wingspan 37-43 inches

The Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized raptor found in eastern and western North America. Adult Red-shouldered Hawks have a distinctive appearance with reddish-brown plumage on their shoulders, contrasting with a pale chest and belly. They have a barred tail, a prominent dark brown cap, and distinctive rufous barring on their underparts.

These hawks primarily inhabit wooded habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, swamps, and riparian areas. They are skilled hunters, preying on a diet that includes small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. They often hunt from perches or engage in soaring flights while scanning for prey.

Red-shouldered Hawks are known for their distinctive vocalizations, including a series of loud and clear whistles and calls. Their calls are often associated with mature forests and are used for territory establishment and courtship displays. These hawks are appreciated by birdwatchers for their striking appearance and vocal behaviors.

Swainson’s Hawk:

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Buteo swainsoni
• Lifespan: 5-7 years
• Origin: Native to North America
• Size: Length 18-22 inches, wingspan 47-56 inches

Swainson’s Hawk is a medium-sized raptor found in North and South America. Adult Swainson’s Hawks have a variable plumage that includes light and dark morphs. Light morph individuals have a light chest and belly with a cinnamon-colored throat and a distinctive “bib” on their upper chest. Their wings are long and pointed, and they have a pale head with a dark eye patch. Dark morph individuals are predominantly dark brown, with a lighter, mottled appearance on their underparts.

These hawks are known for their long-distance migrations. They breed in North America and migrate to South America for the winter. During migration, they can be seen in large flocks called “kettles.”

Swainson’s Hawks primarily feed on a diet of small mammals, insects, and reptiles, and they are often seen soaring at high altitudes while searching for prey. They are appreciated by birdwatchers for their migratory behavior and are a symbol of the changing seasons in some regions.

Broad-winged Hawk

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Buteo platypterus
• Lifespan: 4-5 years
• Origin: Native to North America
• Size: Length 13-17 inches, wingspan 31-34 inches

The Broad-winged Hawk is a small to medium-sized hawk native to North and Central America. Adult Broad-winged Hawks have a distinctive plumage with a mottled appearance on their upperparts, a white belly with fine brown streaks, and a black-and-white banded tail. They have a broad, rounded shape to their wings, which gives them their name.

These hawks are known for their migratory behavior. They breed in eastern North America and migrate to Central and South America for the winter. During migration, they often form large flocks, or “kettles,” and can be seen riding thermal currents in a spiraling fashion.

Broad-winged Hawks primarily feed on a diet of small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. They are often found in wooded habitats and are known for their distinctive, high-pitched calls during the breeding season.

White-tailed Hawk

• Scientific name: Geranoaetus albicaudatus
• Lifespan: Approximately 10 to 15 years
• Wingspan: Approximately 107 to 127 cm (42.1 to 50 inches)
• Native to: North and Central America, often found in open country and savannas.

The White-tailed Hawk is a striking raptor native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. Adult White-tailed Hawks are known for their predominantly white plumage, with black wingtips and a distinctively white tail. They have a pale gray head and a yellow cere (the fleshy patch around the base of the beak).

These hawks typically inhabit a variety of open habitats, including grasslands, savannas, and coastal areas. They are skilled hunters, preying on a diet that includes small mammals, reptiles, and birds.

White-tailed Hawks are known for their soaring flight as they search for prey. They are often seen perched on utility poles or trees while scanning the landscape for potential meals. They are a distinctive and striking bird of prey, appreciated for their plumage and hunting behaviors.

Rough-legged Hawk

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Buteo lagopus
• Lifespan: 16-20 years
• Origin: Native to North America
• Size: Length 18-24 inches, wingspan 52-58 inches

The Rough-legged Hawk is a medium-sized raptor found in North America. Adult Rough-legged Hawks have a distinctive appearance with feathers that extend down their legs, giving them a rough-legged appearance, which is characteristic of this species. They have a variable plumage that includes light and dark morphs. Light morph individuals have a light head, neck, and chest with dark markings on their wings and a white belly. Dark morph individuals are predominantly dark brown, with a lighter tail and belly.

These hawks are known for their preference for open and northern habitats, including tundra, grasslands, and marshes. They primarily feed on a diet of small mammals, such as voles and lemmings, and they are often seen hovering or kiting in search of prey.

Rough-legged Hawks are known for their long-distance migrations. They breed in the Arctic regions of North America and migrate south for the winter. During migration, they can be seen in various parts of North America.

Zone-tailed Hawk

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Buteo albonotatus
• Lifespan: 7-8 years
• Origin: Native to North and Central America
• Size: Length 19-22 inches, wingspan 49-55 inches

The Zone-tailed Hawk is a raptor found in the Americas, primarily in parts of North, Central, and South America. Adult Zone-tailed Hawks have a striking black and white plumage pattern, which resembles the plumage of Turkey Vultures. They have a predominantly black body with white bands on their tail and white patches on their wings. Their head is black with a yellow cere (the fleshy patch around the base of the beak).

These hawks inhabit a variety of environments, including woodlands, canyons, and open landscapes. They are opportunistic hunters and prey on a diverse diet that includes small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Their hunting style often involves soaring and gliding, resembling vultures in flight.

Zone-tailed Hawks are known for their mimicry of Turkey Vultures. This mimicry is thought to be a hunting strategy to surprise prey, as potential prey animals might not recognize them as predatory hawks. They are appreciated for their unique appearance and mimicry behavior.

Harris’s Hawk:

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Parabuteo unicinctus
• Lifespan: 10-12 years in the wild, up to 25 years in captivity
• Origin: Native to the Americas, from the southwestern United States to Chile
• Size: Length 18-25 inches, wingspan 3-4 feet

Harris’s Hawk, also known as the Harris Hawk or Bay-winged Hawk, is a medium-sized raptor found in the Americas, particularly in the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. Adult Harris’s Hawks have a distinctive plumage with dark brown to black upperparts, white underparts, and reddish-brown patches on their shoulders and thighs. They have a prominent white band on their tail, which is often visible in flight.

These hawks are known for their social behavior and often hunt in family groups or small packs. They are highly intelligent and cooperative hunters, often using teamwork to capture prey. Their diet includes a variety of small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.

Harris’s Hawks are commonly found in arid and semi-arid habitats, including deserts and open woodlands. They are known for their striking appearance, keen hunting skills, and the strong bonds they form within their social groups.

Common Black Hawk:

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Buteogallus anthracinus
• Lifespan: 10-15 years
• Origin: Native to Central and South America
• Size: Length 20-23 inches, wingspan 49-54 inches

The Common Black Hawk is a raptor native to parts of the Americas, primarily found in Central and South America, as well as some parts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adult Common Black Hawks have predominantly black plumage with a striking white band on their tail. They have a pale grayish-white head and underparts, with yellow legs and cere.

These hawks typically inhabit riparian habitats, including riverine forests, wetlands, and marshes. They are skilled hunters, preying on a diet that includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. Their hunting behavior often involves soaring over water bodies or perching near water to catch prey.

Common Black Hawks are known for their distinctive vocalizations, which include high-pitched whistles and calls. They are often associated with wetland ecosystems and are appreciated for their striking appearance and hunting skills.

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Accipiter striatus
• Lifespan: 4-5 years
• Origin: Native to North America
• Size: Length 9-13 inches, wingspan 16-22 inches

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small to medium-sized hawk found in North and Central America. Adult Sharp-shinned Hawks have a distinctive appearance with blue-gray upperparts and reddish barring on their underparts. They have a rounded tail with thin white bands and relatively short wings.

These hawks primarily inhabit wooded habitats, including forests, woodlots, and suburban areas. They are agile and fast-flying birds that are specialized hunters of small birds. They are known for their rapid and stealthy attacks on songbirds, often ambushing them in flight.

Sharp-shinned Hawks are sometimes difficult to observe due to their elusive nature, but they are appreciated by birdwatchers for their role in maintaining healthy bird populations. They are considered “accipiters,” a group of hawks known for their short wings and long tails, which aid in their pursuit of agile prey.

Northern Goshawk:

Image: Source

• Scientific name: Circus hudsonius
• Lifespan: 5-10 years
• Origin: Native to North America, found in parts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico
• Size: Length 18-24 inches, wingspan 40-48 inches

The Northern Goshawk is a large and powerful hawk found in North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of northern Africa. Adult Northern Goshawks have a predominantly gray-blue upperparts and wings, with a white belly and finely barred underparts. They have distinctive red eyes and a bold white “eyebrow” stripe.

These hawks typically inhabit mature forests, particularly coniferous and mixed forests, where they are skilled hunters of birds and mammals. Northern Goshawks are known for their hunting prowess, often ambushing prey from concealed perches. They are agile and secretive birds.

Northern Goshawks are also recognized for their aggressive behavior during the breeding season, particularly when defending their nests. They are appreciated by birdwatchers for their powerful and majestic presence in forested landscapes.

Osprey

• Scientific name: Pandion haliaetus
• Lifespan: 10 years
• Size: 20-inch
• Native to: throughout the planet, except in Antarctica, Africa, and South America,

The Osprey is a distinctive raptor found worldwide, often near bodies of water. Adult Ospreys have a predominantly white head, neck, and underparts, with dark brown upperparts. They have a distinctive black eye mask, and their wings and tail are also dark brown. Ospreys have unique adaptations for hunting fish, including reversible outer toes and barbed pads on their feet to help grip slippery prey.

Ospreys are specialized fish-eating raptors and are often seen near rivers, lakes, and coastal areas, where they plunge into the water to catch fish with their talons. They are known for their powerful and spectacular hunting dives, which are a hallmark of their feeding behavior.

Ospreys are appreciated for their ability to thrive in aquatic environments and are often associated with coastal habitats. They are also known for their strong nests, which are often built on platforms, power poles, and other structures near water.

Final Thoughts on Hawks with Striped Tails

• Pallid Harrier
• Black Harrier
• Long-winged
• Gymnogene
• Madagascar Marsh Harrier
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Swainson’s Hawk
• Broad-winged Hawk
• White-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Gray Hawk
• Zone-tailed Hawk
• Harris’s Hawk
• Common Black Hawk
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Northern Goshawk
• Northern Harrier
• Osprey