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Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
At-a-Glance
• Peak Breeding Activity: April-August
• Incubation: 28-31 days
• Clutch Size: 1-4 eggs
• Young Fledge: 5-6 weeks after hatching
• Typical Foods: insects, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds
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Description
Broad-winged hawks are small and stocky. The broad black-and-white tail stripes are the best identifying features. In flight, their wing tips are pointed.
Habitat and Habits
This hawk is an uncommon summer resident. They are small woodland buteos that feed mainly on insects and small reptiles. The broad-winged hawk generally hunts from a perch. These birds are rather tame, but hard to see because they spend most of their time in the tree canopy. Broad-winged hawks sometimes migrate in tremendous flocks, creating a magnificent sight as hundreds or thousands pass a location in a single day. The song is a thin, unhawk-like whistle.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
The nest is of sticks, lined with green leaves, and set in the crotch of a tall tree. The eggs are white, spotted with brown. |
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