

Sharp-shinned Hawks are year-round residents to Michigan, other than the northern tip that is primarily for breeding. Sharp-shinned Hawk Photo by: Dennis Murphy | CC 2.0 These hawks are the Sharp-shinned hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Harrier, and the Northern Goshawk.īelow is a list of these species of hawks found in the state of Michigan with pictures to help you identify each one. There are 8 species of hawks in Michigan. We’ll talk about where you might be able to spot them in the state, look at some pictures, and look at some fun facts for each species. In this article we’ll cover some of the birds of prey found in Michigan, namely hawks in Michigan. It’s a great state for bird watching and wildlife spotting. This includes a number of different species of birds.

Of course, it’s necessary to take care of puppies outside where hawks and other birds of prey are roaming the skies, but adult dogs are relatively safe from Red-tailed hawks.Michigan is located between two of the great lakes, Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife. While they could feasibly take off with a tiny dog, an adult dog would likely put up too much resistance to make it worth it. There are a few breeds of dogs that weigh less than 2kg, like chihuahuas and Pomeranians, but it would be tough for a Red-tailed hawk to fly off with them. Red-tailed hawks can only carry a maximum of 2kg (4lb) or so, which is less than a newborn baby human. Is a Red-tailed hawk bigger than a Bald Eagle?īald eagles weigh around 3 to 6 times more than Red-tailed hawks, and their wingspan of around 6.5 feet (2m) is considerably larger than the Red-tailed hawk’s 141cm (4ft 8in) wingspan.

The Ferruginous hawk has a similar wingspan but weighs more at 1.5kg on average (3.3lb). Red-tailed hawks are the second biggest hawk in North America after the Ferruginous hawk. Of course, there is much more to learn about this wonderful hawk - read on to find out!įAQs Are Red-tailed hawks the biggest hawk in North America? The differences between subspecies are small, involving just a couple of inches or ounces here and there. However, there are some contradictions, as the Alaskan subspecies are one of the smallest. Red-tailed hawks in the northernmost parts of that range are generally larger, consistent with Bergmann’s Rule, which suggests organisms further from the equator are larger because of colder average temperatures. These adaptable birds of prey are common throughout the USA, Canada, and large parts of Central America, including the Antilles. The female is around 25% larger than the male. Red-tailed hawks are one of the larger members of the Buteo genus, measuring 45 to 65cm (18 to 26in) in length, with a wingspan from 110 to 141cm (3ft 7in to 4ft 8in).

Here, we’re going to answer the question: how big are Red-tailed hawks? There are some 16 subspecies, and they’re known for their adaptable nature and flexible hunting abilities. Red-tailed hawks from the Buteo genus are one of the most common birds of prey in North and Central America.
