Hawk, Eagle and Falcon

Wisconsin is home to more than a dozen species of hawks, eagles and falcons, including red-tailed, broad-winged, Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks, bald and golden eagles, merlins, American kestrels and more. These diurnal birds of prey tend to hunt small birds and mammals and often inhabit forests or grasslands. A notable exception is the northern harrier, which lives and nests in marshes, fields and prairies. The most commonly observed hawk in Wisconsin is the red-tailed hawk, but others can be seen soaring in large circles, taking advantage of the wind in kettles, and hunting from roadside powerlines. Some species, like the Cooper’s hawk and the sharp-shinned hawk, may also be seen hunting at bird feeders.

Nesting occurs throughout spring and the start of summer. Both sexes build nests, although depending on the species, either the male or the female does more of the work. Some pairs may also return to the same nest site in subsequent years and repair the nest before reusing it. Depending on the species, the female will lay one to eight eggs. Incubation of the eggs will take about one month; the young, called chicks or nestlings upon hatching, are covered in down and are dependent on their parents. Time of fledging is variable by species, with most beginning to leave the nest within a month of hatching. Red-tailed Hawk and bald eagle chicks can take over 40 days to fledge, while the ground-nesting northern harrier fledges at just 14 days. Fledglings will start to find food on their own, although they may be partially fed by their parents for another month or more.

Tip: If you notice a fledgling hawk on its own or on the ground, and it is not injured, observe it from a distance for several hours. Often, the parents are nearby and may be seen coming back to feed the fledgling intermittently. You may also witness the fledgling attempting short practice flights as it learns to fly. Unless the fledgling appears to be sick, injured, or truly orphaned, it is best to reduce activity in the area and leave it alone.