What Are the Different Types of Hawks?

Hawks are beautiful birds of prey that feed on small mammals, fish, and other types of wildlife. In the scientific community, it is estimated that there are approximately 300 different species of hawks that can be found throughout the world. All of these species belong to the family of birds known as raptors.

Although there are around 300 different species, you can break the hawks down into two broad categories. These categories encompass many of the different species of hawk. They include:

• Buteo hawks
• Accipiter hawks

All About Buteo Hawks

The first of the two major types of classifications of hawks is the genus of the buteo hawk. There are approximately 15 species of hawks that are classified as this type of hawk.

• Hawk species that belong in this genus of hawks are commonly identified by their physical appearance.
• Bueto hawks tend to have thick bodies, broad wings, and are medium in size.
• Another attribute that sets them apart from all other types of hawks is their hunting practices. Rather than a wide hunting ground area, these types of hawks tend to stay in one small area to find sources of food.
• This group of hawks also shares its genus with the buzzard, which is not a hawk, but which is a close cousin.
• This group of hawks contains such popular species as red-tailed hawks.
• Red-tailed hawks are one of the most common species of hawk that is found in North America. Also known as the chicken hawk in the United States, they like to catch and eat small prey such as rodents, but will go after other small birds as well when their food supply is lacking.
• The buteo hawk genus also includes many other species of hawks such as the broad-winged hawk.

All About Accipiter Hawks

The second type, or genus, of hawks are known as accipiter hawks.

• Accipiter hawks tend to be much smaller than buteo hawks.
• Like their buteo cousins, they can also be identified by physical appearance that sets them apart from other types of hawks.
• Hawks classified in this genus have shorter and rounded wings, and smaller bodies.
• The hunting range for hawks classified in this genus of hawks also tends to be smaller than their buteo cousins.
• Accipiter hawks tend to like hunting areas that are covered in woods or shrubbery so they can hide under their cover and ambush their prey when they least expect it.
• Two of the most popular types of hawks classified in this genus are the northern goshawk and the sparrowhawk.
• Both of these species of hawks are native to North America and can be seen prevalently throughout the country in certain areas.
• The northern goshawk is the largest member of the genus of accipiter hawks. 

So, now you know more about the different types of hawks and have a better understanding of these amazing birds of prey.