‘Chicken Hawk’ is not the name of a single bird. Instead, ‘Chicken Hawk’ or ‘Chickenhawk’ is an informal name given to three types of hawks. These are the ‘sharp-shinned hawk’, the ‘Cooper’s hawk’, and the ‘chicken hawk’.
The chickenhawk belongs to the family ‘Accipitridae’. Cooper’s hawk belongs to the genus ‘Accipiter’. Their species is ‘A. cooperii’. The scientific name of these birds is ‘Accipiter cooperii’.
The sharp-shinned bird also belongs to the genus ‘Accipiter’. Their species name is ‘A. striatus’. The binomial name given to them is ‘Accipiter striatus’.
The chicken hawk is a typical member of the genus ‘Buteo’. Their species name is ‘B. jamaicensis’. Their binomial name is ‘Buteo jamaicensis’.
Chicken hawks are beautiful birds of prey that catch our attention. But what do these mysterious hunters really look like? This guide goes into detail about the different shapes, sizes, colors, and behaviors of the birds that are commonly called chicken hawks.
What Are Chicken Hawks?
The Red-tailed Hawk, the Cooper’s Hawk, and the Sharp-shinned Hawk are commonly called “chicken hawks” in North America because they are thought to be dangerous to domestic chickens. However, despite their bad reputation, these hawks eat other animals besides chickens.
Distinguishing Features of Chicken Hawks
Though often confused with each other, these three chicken hawks have distinguishing features that set them apart.
Red-Tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is the most widespread and recognizable chicken hawk. Adults have rich chocolate brown upperparts and pale underparts with a streaked belly. Their namesake reddish-brown tails are unmistakable. They have broad, rounded wings and short, wide tails.
The red-tailed hawk is our biggest chicken hawk. It weighs 2 to 4 pounds and has wings that are 4 to 5 feet long. The hawks can live in a lot of different places, like deserts, fields, grasslands, and even above cities.
Cooper’s Hawk
The Cooper’s Hawk is an agile forest-dweller. Adults sport steel blue-gray backs and reddish-orange barred underparts. Their rounded tails have a prominent white tip. This bird, the Cooper’s Hawk, has a big, square head that looks like it’s wearing a dark gray cap.
These woodland hawks are medium-sized, smaller than Red-tails but larger than crows. They average 14-20 inches long with a wingspan between 24-35 inches. Cooper’s Hawks are found darting between trees in mature forests and wooded neighborhoods.
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
The diminutive Sharp-shinned Hawk is North America’s smallest hawk. Adults have slate gray backs and rufous barred underparts like the Cooper’s. However, Sharp-shins are noticeably smaller with almost comically spindly legs.
Averaging 9-13 inches long with a mere 17-22 inch wingspan, these petite hawks are closer in size to bobwhite quail than their chicken hawk cousins. Unsurprisingly, small woodland birds are their preferred prey.
Plumage and Coloration
Chicken hawks display a stunning array of plumage colors and patterns.
Adult Red-tailed Hawks are elegantly patterned with rich chocolate brown upperparts contrasting creamy white underparts heavily streaked with brown. Their namesake tail feathers are a striking rusty red.
Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks sport similar plumage. Adults have steely slate blue-gray backs with finely barred rufous underparts. Their long banded tails are tipped with white.
Chicken hawks molt into their adult colors by their second year. Juveniles display plainer plumage with brown upperparts and light underparts with heavy streaking. Their tails lack the colorful feathers of adults.
Size Differences
There is considerable size variation among the chicken hawks. The Red-tailed is the giant of the group while the tiny Sharp-shinned tips the scales at just 4-8 ounces.
In between falls the Cooper’s Hawk, which averages 0.7-1.5 lbs. Females of all three species are up to 30% larger than their male counterparts.
These size differences reduce competition between these hawks, allowing each to occupy its own ecological niche preying on different sized quarry.
Habitats
Chicken hawks inhabit diverse habitats across North America. The ubiquitous Red-tailed Hawk occupies deserts, grasslands, marshes, parks, pastures, and roadsides. It thrives from wilderness to backyards.
The forest-loving Cooper’s Hawk resides in both wet and dry woodlands. It frequents mature deciduous and mixed forests as well as wooded parks and suburbs.
The diminutive Sharp-shinned Hawk sticks to dense coniferous and mixed forests. Its small size allows it to hunt within the tight confines of the forest interior.
Hunting Techniques
Chicken hawks employ various techniques to ambush their prey.
Red-tailed Hawks soar above open country and perch in high places like trees, posts, and utility poles to spot prey. They then swoop down to strike prey on the ground.
The agile Cooper’s Hawk stealthily maneuvers through forest vegetation before bursting forth in swift pursuit of songbirds and other woodland creatures.
Tiny Sharp-shins hide in dense thickets then launch surprise attacks on unsuspecting songbirds from concealment. Their slender shape allows them to ply dense woods with ease.
Threat Displays
While chicken hawks are not generally aggressive toward humans, they fiercely defend their territories from intruders with dramatic threat displays.
A territorial Red-tail may perform a series of undulating display dives toward the intruder while voicing a menacing scream.
The Cooper’s Hawk threat display consists of loud calls and ominous swoops with wings held in a unique crossed position.
Sharp-shins perform spiraling dive displays and high-pitched wailing alarm calls to drive away potential predators.
Conservation Status
While Red-tailed Hawks remain widespread, the two forest-dwelling chicken hawks suffered declines last century from habitat loss and pesticides. However, thanks to conservation measures, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks have rebounded significantly.
From their gracefully streaked plumage to their spectacular hunting techniques, chicken hawks showcase an array of avian wonders. Understanding the looks and behaviors of these birds allows us to fully appreciate the diversity of the natural world. The more we learn about creatures like chicken hawks, the more motivated we become to protect their fragile habitats and maintain ecological balance.
Reproduction in Chicken Hawk Birds
Chickenhawks are hushed birds. But during the mating season, chickenhawks are very vocal. They give out mating calls in search of potential mates. They also dance in the sky to attract attention. The mating between a male and a female lasts about ten seconds.
After mating, both the male and female hawks look for a safe and protected site to build their nests. They ensure that when the eggs are laid, they are away from danger. All three chicken hawk species have an average incubation period of 30 days. After 30 days, the female lays eggs. A female lays around 1-8 eggs at once. She lays an average of 4 eggs in one clutch. Usually, the female sits on the eggs to incubate them.
Male and female chicken hawks are monogamous. Unlike many other animals, they only choose one mate for their entire lifetime.
The eggs that chicken hawks lay have unique characteristics.
Cooper’s hawk eggs are pale sky blue to almost white. The eggs have a smooth surface. Sometimes, the surface is spotted. The eggs of red-tailed hawks are white. They sometimes appear with a faint buffy wash. The eggs are, at times, covered with blotches. These patches can be buff, dark brown, purple, or reddish-brown. Sharp-shinned hawks have eggs that are white to bluish-white. Their eggs are also blotched. The blotches are brown.
The incubation period in chickenhawks lasts for around 30-35 days. The hatchlings are born within 2-4 days. New hatchlings of chicken hawks are white. Their eyes are bluish-grey. Their exposed body parts are tan to pink in color.
Their growth is slow for a few days, after which they grow rapidly. The female broods over the young hawk while the male searches for food. The chicks learn from their parents and stay in their nests for about 3-6 weeks. After this period, they become independent.
Where does a Chicken Hawk Live?
Chickenhawks are all found in North America. The Cooper’s hawks are present in regions between southern Canada to Mexico. We can discover red-tailed hawks in north Canada, Alaska, Panama, and the West Indies. The sharp-shinned hawk exists in the United States and Canada.
Temperate deciduous forests and mixed forests are natural habitats for Cooper’s hawks. They also live in forested mountains. They prefer open woodlands. The red-tailed hawks can adapt themselves to a wide variety of habitats. These include deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests. They can also live in regions of different altitudes. We can find sharp-shinned hawks in a variety of woodlands and forest types. They occupy areas in the temperate, boreal forests.
The chickenhawk birds can also live in urban areas. As a result, sightings of these birds are now becoming common. This is especially true for the red-tailed hawks and Cooper’s hawks.
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FAQ
What’s the difference between a hawk and a chicken hawk?
The United States calls three types of hawks in the Accipitridae family “chickenhawks” or “chicken hawks.” These are the Cooper’s hawk (also called a quail hawk), the sharp-shinned hawk, and the Buteo species red-tailed hawk. The term “chicken hawk”, however, is inaccurate.
What attracts chicken hawks?
Install a bird bath, fountain, pond, or other water source. Hawks will be more likely to come on your property if there is drinking water readily available. This is especially important if you live in a dry area. If there are natural ponds or other water sources on your property, it’s not as necessary.
Are chicken hawks aggressive?
They are carnivorous birds. They eat rodents, lizards, squirrels, snakes, frogs, and even smaller birds! They also hunt rabbits, bats, fish, and insects. Chickenhawks are ferocious and aggressive predators.
Is a chicken hawk a quail hawk?
In the United States, chickenhawk or chicken hawk is an unofficial designation for three species of North American hawks in the family Accipitridae: Cooper’s hawk (also called a quail hawk), the sharp-shinned hawk, and the Buteo species red-tailed hawk. The term “chicken hawk”, however, is inaccurate.
What are the physical features of a chicken hawk?
The chicken hawks are well known for their unique physical features. All three types of chicken hawks have hooked bills. The Cooper’s hawks have a square kind of head. They have long tails shaped like a wedge. Their legs and claws are long and thick.
What is a chicken hawk?
A chicken hawk is not a specific type of bird. It is a colloquial term mostly used in the United States. It collectively refers to three distinct types of North American hawks known for their tendency to prey on chickens and other small animals.
What are the different types of chicken hawks?
Here are some examples of the different sizes of chicken hawks: Cooper’s Hawk: These birds are usually between 14 and 20 inches long, have wingspans between 29 and 37 inches, and weigh about 0-1 pound. 8 to 1. 5 pounds. These medium-sized hawks are about the size of a crow.
What do chicken hawks eat?
Chicken hawks have a diverse diet, primarily consisting of small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Rodents, lizards, snakes, rabbits, squirrels, and moles are among their common prey. When given the opportunity, these birds of prey will also feed on smaller birds, as well as frogs, bats, fish, and insects.
What is the difference between chicken hawk and Hawk?
Hawks and chicken hawks are both types of birds of prey, but they belong to different families. Hawks are larger than chicken hawks and have longer wings. ALSO READ: Can You Eat Owl? Chicken hawks also have a more rounded head, while hawks have a more angular head.