Class Aves
Order Kites
Family Eagles and Kites
Genus Buteo

Credit: Jerry Oldenettel

North American field guide

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Also known as:Grasshopper Hawk, Locust Hawk

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

53 cm (21") Western hawk, especially common in the plains. Long narrow pointed wings.

Light Phase: dark breast or bib area. White chin and belly. Finely barred tail with a dark terminal band.

Dark Phase: all dark except for finely barred tail and white undertail coverts.

In flight; uptilted wings teeter like a Turkey Vulture.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

8 photos

Credit: J. N. Stuart

Credit: Alan Vernon

Credit: Maggie Smith

Dark phase in flight - Littleton, Colorado

Credit: Chuck Roberts

Credit: Gregory "Greg" Smith

With a Wandering Garter Snake - Chestermere, Alberta, CA - August 12, 2012

Credit: Daniel Arndt

Light phase - Yellowstone NP August 2007

Credit: purza7

Pair - a dark phase and light phase together

Credit: Pat Gaines

Watch and learn

Videos

4 videos

Swainson's Hawk with snack

Credit: Ed Matuod

Swainson's Hawk

Credit: Ed Matuod

Swainson's Hawk in Flight

Credit: Bob Danley

Swainson's Hawk Hunting and Hovering as Farmer Mows Hay Field

Credit: Gary O. Grimm

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 6 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Swainson's Hawk (Dark Phase)

2 rules

Rule 1 10 criteria confidence 4

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Pointed · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:409-swainson-s-hawk-dark-phase:1:1 Source: 409 Swainson's Hawk (Dark Phase), row 1

Rule 2 10 criteria confidence 4

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:409-swainson-s-hawk-dark-phase:2:1 Source: 409 Swainson's Hawk (Dark Phase), row 2

Swainson's Hawk (Immature)

2 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 4

Where was the white seen in flight ?: On the wings and underbody · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Pointed · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:410-swainson-s-hawk-immature:1:1 Source: 410 Swainson's Hawk (Immature), row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 4

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:410-swainson-s-hawk-immature:2:1 Source: 410 Swainson's Hawk (Immature), row 2

Swainson's Hawk (Light Phase)

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4

Where was the white seen in flight ?: On the wings and underbody · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Pointed · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:408-swainson-s-hawk-light-phase:1:1 Source: 408 Swainson's Hawk (Light Phase), row 1

Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 4

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white)
What colour was the BREAST ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Crow-sized · Goose-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:408-swainson-s-hawk-light-phase:2:1 Source: 408 Swainson's Hawk (Light Phase), row 2