Hawk Photos

Why is this page called Hawk Photos? Because Buteos are called Hawks in North American and Buzzards in the rest of the world. In North America, the term buzzard refers to Vultures. "True Hawks" are the Accipiters.

Buteos are characterized by long broad wings and large fan-shaped tails, which have evolved for soaring effortlessly, while scanning open ground for prey.

Click on thumbnails for larger hawk photos (Buteos & Buzzards). Please remember the terms of use.

Red-tailed hawks Red-tailed hawk chicks Red-tailed hawk
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) comparison of adult & juvenile tails Red-tailed Hawk chicks (20-21 days old) Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile by light eye color)
Red-tailed Hawk Common Buzzard Ferruginous hawk chicks
Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile by light eye color) Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) (Eurasian Buzzard - chick 28-30 days old) Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) chicks 21-23 days
Variable Hawk, Red-backed Hawk Melanistic Red-tailed hawk.jpg Albino Red-tailed hawk.jpg
Variable Hawk (Buteo polyosoma) (formerly Red-backed Hawk - recently lumped with Puna Hawk (B. poecilochrous) Melanistic Red-tailed Hawk - Juvenile by light eye Partial Albino Red-tailed Hawk - Adult by dark eye

List of Buteo Species included in photos:

  • Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
  • Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
  • Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
  • Variable Hawk (Buteo polyosoma)

There are ten species of Buteo and two related Buteonine species that breed in North America (species listed below).

Buteonine Raptors that Breed in North America

Buteos:

  • Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
  • Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
  • Gray Hawk (Buteo nitidus)
  • Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
  • Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
  • Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)
  • Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)
  • Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
  • White-tailed Hawk (Buteo albicaudatus)
  • Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotus)

Other Related Buteo and Buteo Allies:

Parabuteo: Harris Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

Buteogallus: Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus)

Hawaii has one endemic species of Buteo
Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo solitarius)

Central or South American species that occur in North America:

Road-side Hawk (Buteo magnirostris)

(Can be seen in Southern Texas).

Variable Hawk (Buteo polysoma)
(formerly Red-backed Hawk/Buzzard)
Actually bred in Colorado paired with a Swainson's Hawk.

Related Bird of Prey Pages:

Go to Red-tailed Hawk Page

Birds of Prey

Go to Raptor Migration Page

We highly recommend Wheeler and Clark's; A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors. It is by far one of the best for raptor ID with excellent photos and descriptions.

Veiw all Bird Pictures

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