Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus (Vieillot, 1823)    Synonyms: BWHA.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Accipitriformes   >   Family Accipitridae   >   Genus Buteo   

Description:

These compact Buteos are smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk and about the size of a Red-shouldered Hawk. They have a distinctive shape in flight with a short tail, bulging secondaries (inner part of the wings), and tail bands (bold on adults, more diffuse on younger birds). Adults' wings often appear edged in dark, and with a close look you can see a line down the middle of the throat. Especially in spring and during the breeding season you can sometimes detect them by their high-pitched piercing calls, which sound like teeee-TEEEEEEEE! For ruling out more common Buteo species, note the lack of the patagial bars (black leading edge of wings on either side of the head) found on all ages of Red-tailed Hawk and the lack of the "windows" (translucent patches in primaries) seen in Red-shouldered Hawk.

There are 365 records in the project database.

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Broad-winged Hawks calling in Garrett Co., Maryland (4/15/2022). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). - Josh Emm.

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A Broad-winged Hawk in Cecil Co., Maryland (9/23/2014). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Broad-winged Hawk in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/28/2018). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Broad-winged Hawk over Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/4/2013). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Broad-winged Hawk over Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/12/2013). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Broad-winged Hawk over Allegany Co., Maryland (4/30/2011). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)(More of this species)

A Broad-winged Hawk in Charles Co., Maryland (9/12/2016). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Broad-winged Hawk in Harford Co., Maryland (9/5/2016). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Broad-winged Hawk in Harford Co., Maryland (4/13/2015). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Broad-winged Hawk in Garrett Co., Maryland (7/25/2015). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Broad-winged Hawk in Green Ridge SF, Maryland (9/15/2012). Photo by J.B. Churchill. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/19/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A juvenile Broad-winged Hawk in Cayuga Co., New York (8/13/2010). Photo by Chris Wood. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk on nest in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/9/2022). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/17/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Part of a kettle of 150+ southbound Broad-winged Hawks over Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/17/2011). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/19/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/22/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/3/2022). No rights reserved. Photo by Andy Wilson via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/17/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/19/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/23/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/28/2018). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/19/2020). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/29/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Cecil Co., Maryland (9/30/2021). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/29/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/29/2021). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/21/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/21/2022). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Broad-winged Hawk nesting in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/8/2015). Photo by Keith Eric Costley. (MBP list)

Broad-winged Hawks in Harford Co., Maryland (9/25/2018). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)


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