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Swainson's Hawk
Seen one? Add it to your free US BirdedexHear its song and see the mapFree, no app download. Uncommon bird: +3 points when you log it.
Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Forest, open country, mountains.
Diet: Mammals, birds, reptiles.
Best time to spot: Soars; autumn hawk-watches.
When to look
Check local eBird bar charts for timing in your state; range and season vary a lot across the US.
How rare is it?
The Swainson's Hawk sits in our Uncommon tier for the US: regular, but you usually need the right place or the right season. It belongs to the hawks, eagles, and kites family.
Recent US sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Broad-winged HawkUncommon · Forest
- Ferruginous HawkUncommon · Forest
- Rough-legged HawkUncommon · Forest
- Gray HawkRare · Forest
- Hawaiian HawkRare · Forest
- Long-legged BuzzardLegendary · Forest
Kit that helps
Best binoculars. Affiliate links, our own picks, no extra cost to you.
Log a Swainson's Hawk in your free US Birdedex