Raptors of Virginia

1. Raptors of Virginia

2. Vultures The carrion eaters

3. Black Vulture Black head, White outer wing patches, Short tail White wing patch on outer wings

4. Turkey VultureRed head, Flies with wings held in a V, Trailing edge of wing is white. Long tail Trailing edge is white

5. ButeosLarge conspicuous soaring hawks. Broad wings and broad, fanned tails. Often hunt from a perch in a dead snag or from power poles.

6. Red-tailed HawkRed tail on adult. Large. Dark patagial marks on forewing. Immature birds usually have a dark belly band. Dark Patagials Belly Band

7. Red-shouldered Hawk Black and white wing bars, Black and white tail, Red shoulders, Reddish breast. Screams a lot especially during spring and summer. Red shoulder Two or more thin black and white bands

8. Broad-winged Hawk Two wide black tail bands, Grayish brown chin and bib. Grayish brown bars on chest. Small, Prefers mature woodlands with streams and seeps. One broad dark band and one white band in tail

9. Rough-legged HawkArtic Visitor. Dark solid belly band, dark wrist panels, Dark sub-terminal band in tail. Legs fully feathered. Courses over fields for mice.

10. AccipitersThe secretive woodland hawks.

11. Sharp-shinned Hawk Small. Rounded head. Squared tail with barring. “Bug eyed” Head behind wing wrists in a glide.

12. Cooper’s Hawk Common but secretive. Round tail. Squared-off head. Head beyond wings.

13. Northern GoshawkA large gray and white hawk. White eyebrow stripe White eyebrow.

14. FalconsFast bird eating raptors. They have pointed wings, Dark eyes with a malar stripe. Toothed beak. Long bird catching toes.

15. Kestrel Smallest falcon. Hunts mice from telephone wires. Often “pump” its tail when perched

16. MerlinWinter visitor. Small. Slate colored. Weak malar stripe.

17. Peregrine FalconLargest falcon in Virginia. Bold mustache. Blue-gray and white.

18. HarriersCoursing raptors. Hunt by sight and sound. Owl-like face.

19. Northern HarrierCoursing bird. Owl-like face. Long tail with a white rump patch. Males gray, females brown.

20. Ospreys The fish hawk. World-wide distribution. Knobby feet to catch and hold onto fish. Dives into water feet first!

21. Osprey“Fish Hawk” Brown and white. Large. Bends wings at the elbows.

22. Eagles Largest raptors. Many types.

23. Bald Eagle America’s symbol. Large. Don’t mature until 4 to 5 years old. Catch fish by dipping feet into water.

24. Golden Eagle- Rare visitor to the east. Large & powerful. Golden hackles.

25. OwlsThe nocturnal raptors.

26. Great Horned Owl– The largest owl in Virginia. Large ear tuffs. Broad chest. Yellow eyes. Ear tuffs broad and apart. Breast striped

27. Barred Owl – The “hoot” owl. Round head with black eyes. Prefers swampy woods. Call = “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?”

28. Screech Owl Smallest year round resident. Ear tuffs. Two color phases – red and gray.

29. Barn Owl Deep facial disk. Best hearing of any owl. Roosts and nest in man-made structures such as barns.

30. Short-eared OwlWinter visitor. Small ear tuffs. Courses over fields in search of voles. Smallear tuffs

31. Long-eared OwlWinter visitor.Slim. Large ear tuffs. Prefers woods and field edges. Ears long and close together Diamond shape breast spots

32. Northern Saw-whet OwlOur smallest visiting winter owl. No ear tuffs!