![]() ![]() It’s also believed that there are a few breeding populations along the Missouri River bluffs and southeaster Nebraska. It’s believed there are year-round residents in the Missouri River Valley, which makes it difficult to tell if the bird you’re spotting is a resident or a migratory bird. The Red-Shouldered Hawk is relatively rare throughout the state, but can be spotted year round. This species is especially agile for a hawk, possessing a rudder-like tail that gives it superior agility and allows it to flourish in these more dense forests. It prefers mature mountain forests and riparian zone habitats, and will often re-visit nests from previous years. Wintering birds are mostly restricted to northern and northwestern Nebraska and tend to stay within their own territory. The majority of those seen in the spring and fall are the juveniles, as the adults tend to overwinter in their summer territories for as long as food is available. The Northern Goshawk is a relatively rare regular migrant, rare summer visitor, and rare winter visitor as well. They can also be spotted soaring alongside highways, as they’re uniquely adapted to hunting in these large open areas.ĥ.Northern Goshawk Photo by: Francesco Veronesi | CC 2.0 It’s considered uncommon to rare in the northwest and the western Sandhills, but it’s the most common hawk along the lower reaches of the North Platte River. They winter statewide, but are very unevenly distributed, with 5 times as many of them in the east than on the west. The Red-Tailed Hawk is a fairly common regular resident throughout Nebraska. You may also like: 12 Species of Mushrooms Found in Indiana These young can fly at about one month of age, but they’ll be dependent on their parents until they’re about two months of age, leading to this species staying in the state until their young are capable of migrating alongside them. Spring is their primary breeding season, where they’re more active during the day when the males go out hunting and are responsible for bringing food back to their mate and their fledglings. They prefer to live in woodland areas and riparian zones, so are most commonly spotted near streams and rivers. They summer in the woodlands close to the Niobrara Valley Preserve, but have been slowly encroaching on human environments, especially near Omaha and Lincoln. The Coopers Hawk is a fairly common bird in Nebraska, and is a fairly consistent breeder statewide. They will also filter into areas where larger raptors have left behind their nests for the Sharp-Shinned Hawk to then move into. Many have been spotted frequenting urban neighborhoods while preying on passerines that are attracted to bird feeders. Migratory birds have become most noticeable in early September, and are found throughout the entire state during winter. This breeding primarily occurs within the Pine Ridge region. The Sharp-Shinned Hawk is a regular spring and fall statewide migrant, but has been observed as a casual breeder up north as well. Sharp-shinned Hawk Photo by: Dennis Murphy | Flickr | CC 2.0 This particular species prefers to migrate alone and during the daytime, hunting along the way and relying on hearing as much as vision when searching for prey.Ģ. They’ll nest anywhere in the state where wet meadows occur, with most reports during the breeding season coming from the Panhandle and Sandhill regions. ![]() They typically migrate in March, and this event is usually over by late April. It’s also a rare breeder within the Central and Western parts of the state, as indicated by sightings in May. The Northern Harrier is a common spring and fall migrant within Nebraska. Northern Harrier image: Renee Grayson | Flickr | CC 2.0 Let’s look at each of these species a little bit closer, shall we? 1. ![]() The 10 species of hawks in Nebraska are the Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, and the Ferruginous Hawk. There are 10 species of hawks in Nebraska that range across the state that take advantage of its location for migratory purposes, abundant prey, and a wide range of habitats for them to flourish in. ![]() Their preferred method of taking prey is from above and by surprise, so they can often be seen taking part in short chases. Hawks are a subcategory of birds of prey, characterized by broad, rounded wings and a long tail to increase agility and speed when hunting for birds, small mammals, amphibians, and insects. ![]()
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