Hawk

Hawks are birds of prey that belong to the family Accipitridae. They can be found almost everywhere in the world, on every continent except Antarctica. These birds are known for their sharp vision and hunting skills, making them important parts of nature.

There are different kinds of hawks. Some, like goshawks, sparrowhawks, and sharp-shinned hawks, live mainly in wooded areas. They have short, broad wings and long tails, which help them surprise their prey from hiding spots.

In the United States, other birds called hawks belong to the Buteo group. These are often called buzzards in other parts of the world. They have broad wings and strong bodies, and they can fly long distances over open spaces. Instead of chasing after their food, they swoop down or jump on it.

All these birds are part of the same family, which also includes kites, harriers, and eagles. Sometimes, people use the word "hawk" for any small to medium bird in this family that isn’t an eagle. Even birds that aren’t technically hawks sometimes get called ones, like the osprey, which people might call a "fish hawk", or the peregrine falcon, known as a "duck hawk".

History

Falconry was once called "hawking," and any bird used for this activity could be called a hawk.

Ancient thinkers like Aristotle listed many types of hawks, using names such as aisalōn, asterias, and kenchrēïs. Later, Pliny mentioned several kinds of hawks too, including the kenchrēïs and triorchēs.

Groups

Accipiterine group

Accipitrine hawks usually hunt other birds and are sometimes called "hen-hawks." They are also called "wood-hawks" because they live in woodland areas. Many of them are called "sparrowhawks" or "goshawks" because they hunt small birds like sparrows or large water birds like geese.

The subfamily Accipitrinae includes the genus Accipiter along with the genera Micronisus, Urotriorchis, and Megatriorchis. Melierax (chanting goshawk) might be part of this subfamily or in its own subfamily.

Erythrotriorchis (red- and chestnut-shouldered goshawk) is usually part of Accipitridae, but it might belong to a different group.

Buteonine group

The "Buteonine group" includes genera like Buteo, Parabuteo, Geranoetus, and most of Leucopternis. These birds are sometimes called "hawk-buzzards."

New proposed genera like Morphnarchus, Rupornis, and Pseudastur might be created from some members of Buteo and Leucopternis.

Members of the "Buteogallus group" are also called hawks, except for some solitary eagle species. Buteo is the main genus of the subfamily Buteoninae. This subfamily usually includes eagles and sea-eagles, but some scientists suggest putting them in separate subfamilies called Aquilinae and Haliaaetinae. This would leave only the buteonine hawks and buzzards in Buteoninae.

Characteristics

Hawks are very smart birds. In 2005, a scientist found a way to measure how clever birds are by looking at how they find new ways to get food. Hawks were one of the birds that scored very highly on this test.

Hawks can see very well. They have special eyes that help them spot things from far away. Some hawks can see details that are very tiny, even when they are a long distance away. This helps them find food and stay safe.

Migration

Like most birds, hawks travel to different places in the autumn and spring. The autumn migration starts in August and ends in mid-December. Hawks pick different times to travel depending on how far they need to go. Those with longer distances leave earlier in the autumn, while those with shorter distances leave later. Getting to their destination early helps hawks find mates, food, and good spots.

Many things affect a hawk’s journey. Hawks usually have more body fat when they start their trip, which helps them travel safely. The path they take is also important because wind can push them off course or help them along. Hawks often avoid flying over large bodies of water to stay safe, choosing to fly around lakes or along coastlines instead.

Hawkwatching is an activity where people watch and record hawk migrations to help scientists learn more.

Habitat and distribution

See also: List of Accipitriformes by population

The red-tailed hawk is probably the most common hawk in North America. Hawks can live in many different places, but they like open areas such as deserts and fields because it helps them see their food. Because they are very flexible, hawks can also be found in mountains, tropical areas of Central America, the West Indies, and Jamaica.

Behavior

Parents feed their young hawks from early on until the babies leave the nest. Young hawks can leave the nest as early as six weeks old, but they don't start hunting until they are older. Hawks catch their food with their sharp claws, and they usually hunt just before nightfall when there is less light.

Hawks fly by flapping their wings quickly and then gliding on the wind. Like many birds, hawks sometimes travel together in groups during migration. In the United States, a group of hawks is called a "kettle."

Reproduction

Hawks have special ways of finding a partner and having babies. Some hawks stay with one partner for their whole lives. Before they start their family, the male and female build a nest together and make it bigger each year.

Hawks have an interesting way of showing they want to be together. The male and female fly in a circular motion. Then, the male dives down towards the female and flies back up. They keep doing this until the male grabs onto the female, and they fall together towards the ground.

Each year, a female hawk lays about five eggs. Both the male and female take care of the eggs for around a month until they hatch.

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Diet

Hawks eat many kinds of small animals they find on the ground, such as snakes, lizards, fish, mice, rabbits, squirrels, and birds. For example, red-shouldered hawks like to eat smaller birds like doves as well as bugs such as grasshoppers and crickets.

In culture

Further information: Falconry

The word war hawk, or just hawk, is used in politics to describe someone who supports war. This term started in the United States during talks about a possible war with Great Britain in 1810. A congressman named John Randolph called the group led by Henry Clay the "war-hawks". People who oppose war or believe in peace are called doves.

Many sports teams use the hawk as a symbol, like the Atlanta Hawks, the Hawthorn Hawks, and the Malmö Redhawks. In 1997, the teams at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio changed their name to the RedHawks. The teams at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia also use the hawk as their symbol. The University of Iowa calls its teams the Hawkeyes, with Herky the Hawk as their mascot and a hawk head as their logo.

Hawks are closely linked to Guru Gobind Singh in the Sikh community. It is believed he had a white Northern Goshawk, which is why this bird is the official symbol of Punjab, India.

In Korea, from early Joseon times, hawks and other birds of prey were connected to a government group called the Imperial Censorate. This shows values like bravery and fairness. Artists like Chŏng Hongnae painted hawks for royalty, and his work Hawk at Sunrise is kept in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.