Instead of just killing the prey and ridding it of its misery, they prefer to squeeze it until it’s dead. It doesn’t help that Cooper’s hawks have violent hunting tendencies, too. They’re highly agile in flight, which helps them capture their prey faster than they can realize they’re being preyed on. They look exactly the same, but the rounded tails of Cooper’s hawks and their round red eyes give them away.Ĭooper’s hawks are common in Texas, and they spend most of their time on field edges and inside the woods. If not for their slightly larger size, you’d definitely mistake Cooper’s hawks for sharp-shinned ones. If you’re lucky, you’ll see one flying by your backyard feeder. Top Tip: In Texas, you’ll see these hawks in the woods. They know well enough that his hunting method may turn on them, but they look like they’ve been doing fine until now. They fly quickly through dense vegetation, surprising their prey out of nowhere. While most hawks just splurge out on their victim, effectively killing it within a few seconds of contact, sharp-shinned hawks prefer the element of surprise. That doesn’t make them any less dangerous than other raptors, though. Sharp-shinned hawks are smaller than most hawks, and they’re among the smallest raptors in Texas. They look like wild turkeys, but they’re more vicious. These fellows are common in Texas, and they breed in the year for the whole year. Because of that, they have an impeccable sense of smell that helps them smell victims as far as eight miles away. Their main diet consists of dead animal bodies. The concept of scavenging is unfamiliar to humans, but it’s common among vultures. That’s mostly because of their scavenging habits. That’s not why they’re perceived as scary, though. They’re unmistakable with their fiery red faces and sharp looks. Turkey vultures are widely known because of their rather menacing looks. So, while they hunt birds of their own, they’re constantly hunted down by larger raptors. Unfortunately, American kestrels lack the size advantage. Their size also makes them agile enough to catch their prey without stalling.
![texas birds of prey texas birds of prey](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/57/6f/0a/576f0a0a1f038ebb586ddb7138446cb3.jpg)
They catch sparrows right out of the air without waiting for them to land. Many bird watchers call American kestrels sparrow hawks because of their infamous hunting method. They’re the smallest birds of prey in Texas, falling in the same size category as American robins. American KestrelĪmerican kestrels may be too small to be raptors, but their hunting skills have them living just fine. Top Tip: They all share the red tail, which is your key to identifying them. Not to mention, they look like multiple other hawk species, like red-shouldered hawks. Some will be rusty brown, and some will lean more towards white. It may not be easy to identify them because birds have different colored bodies. You can find them in urban areas, parks, forests, and even backyard feeders. It’s not hard for red-tailed hawks to live anywhere with their highly adaptive natures. It’s one of the most common raptors in Texas, living in the state for the whole year without migrating. The red-tailed hawk is widespread in pretty much all of the US. Some migrate as far as 4,000 miles and return the same distance.Įven for hawks, this is a quite impressive distance to cover twice a year. These hawks spend the summer in Texas before flying to South America and Central America to pursue warmth. They prefer to stay hidden in the woods, particularly away from any passing human.
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They’ll be there, but you won’t see them because they don’t want you to. Broad-Winged Hawkīroad-winged hawks don’t like to make their presence known. Plus, they can’t find plenty in Texas’ woods. However, equipped with their sharp talons and hunting skills, they have nothing to fear. In the end, golden eagles are smaller than half the size of these animals. You’d be surprised to find out that golden eagles may feed on mountain goats and deer. Golden eagles prefer preying on mammals, while bald eagles only eat mammals when fish isn’t available. Golden eagles are faster than their cousins, though, thanks to their agile flying skills.īoth species also have different feeding habits. If not for their dark heads, you’d easily mistake them for each other.
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Golden eagles are spitting images of bald eagles.
![texas birds of prey texas birds of prey](https://s.hdnux.com/photos/53/15/42/11327655/9/rawImage.jpg)
They also stay in the state for the whole year. They live and nest near rivers, marshes, ponds, and streams. Top Tip: You can find ospreys near any water body in Texas. However, ospreys aren’t even genetically related to hawks they only look like them. Many people even call it the sea hawk and fish hawk. The fish-eating bird is commonly classified as a hawk. If you’re the same, look for an osprey in Texas. Watching a bird reach into the water, take a fish out, and feed on it is a scene that never ceases to amaze me. Piscivore birds have always been an interest of mine.