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Hawk Watch!

Fall is a great time for hawk-watching. Why? Because many hawks—and other birds of prey, called raptors—are on the move, migrating south for the winter. And they often travel along the same routes where you can see a bunch of them all at once.

Here are some tips:

1. Know Where to Go
You can look up in the sky for hawks anytime, anywhere. But there are some hot spots during migration where you're more likely to see them—and lots of them. These hot spots are usually along coastlines or mountain ridges. For more, check out eNature's Hawk Watch feature.

2. Know What to Watch For
What kinds of raptors you'll see depends on where you are. Here are some common ones. Check 'em out!

Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Northern Harrier
Ferruginous Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Golden Eagle
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Kestrel

3. Know How to Tell Who's Who
It's hard to see much detail on something way up high—even with binoculars. But experienced hawk watchers can tell a lot just by shape.

Illustration by Michael Slack