Hawks come in a variety of colors and patterns, both on their topsides and undersides. The exact coloring can vary considerably between different hawk species, as well as between individuals within a species. However, most hawks do tend to have pale undersides, often with barring or streaking. This helps provide camouflage when seen from below while hunting.
Some quick answers to key questions about hawk underside coloration:
– Red-tailed hawks have pale undersides, usually whitish with dark streaks.
– Cooper’s hawks have pale undersides with reddish barring.
– Sharp-shinned hawks have pale undersides with reddish spots and bars.
– Northern goshawks have pale undersides with dark gray barring.
– Red-shouldered hawks have pale undersides with reddish barring.
– Broad-winged hawks have pale undersides with dark barring.
– Swainson’s hawks have pale undersides with dark streaking.
– Rough-legged hawks have pale undersides with dark streaking.
– Ferruginous hawks have mostly white undersides with some reddish streaking.
So in summary, a light base color with darker markings is the most common among hawk species. But the specific pattern can vary. Read on for more details on different hawk species’ underside patterns and colors.
Red-Tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk is one of the most common and widespread hawk species in North America. They are large, stocky hawks characterized by broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail.
Red-tailed hawks are highly variable in color. Their topsides can range from almost black to pale gray or rufous. The undersides are typically light with dark streaks. Specifically, the undersides are white to pale gray with sparse dark streaking or mottling. The legs are feathered to the toes, also in white with brown barring.
The red tail that gives this species its name is a rusty-red color. But this color varies from bright red to pinkish-cinnamon. The tail may appear light from below when closed. Immature birds can have molted tail feathers in contrasting colors.
So in summary, red-tailed hawks have predominantly white underbodies with some dark streaks and barred legs. The namesake red tail is not always visible from below. There can be considerable variation among individuals.
Example Red-Tailed Hawk Underside
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s hawks are crow-sized woodland hawks found throughout North America. Adults have blue-gray backs and pale undersides with reddish barring. Their tails are rounded and blue-gray with black and white bands.
Specifically, adult Cooper’s hawks have pale gray undersides with rusty or reddish-brown horizontal barring. The leg feathers are also lightly barred. The undersides can range from almost white to a peachy-cinnamon color. The brown barring helps provide camouflage when viewed from below.
Immature Cooper’s hawks have brown backs and streaked undersides. Their tails have narrow brown bands. The immature plumage provides excellent camouflage in the trees until they mature at about one year old.
So in summary, Cooper’s hawks have distinctive pale undersides with reddish barring, which can vary in intensity between individuals. This helps camouflage them in the trees while hunting other birds.
Example Cooper’s Hawk Underside
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned hawks are small woodland hawks that breed across North America. Adults have slate-gray backs and pale undersides with bars or spots. They have short rounded wings and long square-tipped tails.
Specifically, adult sharp-shinned hawks have white or pale gray undersides with reddish spotting or barring. The barring is sometimes described as “teardrop” shaped spots. The legs and feet are yellow and unbarred.
Immature sharp-shinned hawks have brown backs and streaking on the undersides. Their tails have narrow brown bands. Their legs are yellow but less bright than the adults.
So in summary, sharp-shinned hawks have pale undersides with distinctive reddish spots and bars. This provides camouflage against trees and sky as they hunt small birds.
Example Sharp-Shinned Hawk Underside
Northern Goshawk
The northern goshawk is a larger, fierce woodland hawk that inhabits boreal and temperate forests across North America. Adults are slate-gray above with bold white undersides streaked with gray. They have broad wings and a long tail.
Specifically, adult northern goshawks have undersides that are predominantly white with heavy dark gray barring. The barring varies from faint thin lines to thick, almost solid, stripes. The legs are feathered white, also with dark barred markings.
Immature goshawks have brown backs and pale undersides with brown streaks. Their tail bands are also brown. The streaking helps camouflage young birds in the trees.
In summary, northern goshawks have boldly patterned white and gray undersides. This distinguishes them from other woodland hawk species when viewed from below.
Example Northern Goshawk Underside
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered hawks are medium-sized hawks named for their reddish shoulder patches. They are year-round residents of eastern North America. Adults have striking black-and-white checkerboard backs and barred reddish undersides.
Specifically, red-shouldered hawks have pale undersides with reddish-brown barring. The barring is quite heavy on the chest and stomach, becoming finer on the legs and wing linings. The undertail coverts are white with faint barring.
Immature red-shouldered hawks have brown backs with streaked undersides. Their tail bands are also brownish. Their reddish shoulders help identify them before they reach full adult plumage by 2-3 years old.
So in summary, red-shouldered hawks can be identified from below by their heavily barred reddish undersides and lack of a red tail. The reddish barring provides camouflage in the trees as they hunt small mammals and reptiles.
Example Red-Shouldered Hawk Underside
Broad-Winged Hawk
The broad-winged hawk is a small hawk named for its short, broad wings adapted for maneuvering in dense forests. They breed across eastern North America. Adults are sooty brown above with pale barred undersides.
Specifically, broad-winged hawks have white undersides heavily streaked with dark brown bars. The barring varies from thin lines to thick droplet shapes. The legs are also barred brown and white.
Immature broad-wings have brown backs streaked with white. Their undersides are white with heavy brown streaks and spots. Their tails have narrow brown bands.
So in summary, broad-winged hawks have boldly patterned white undersides with heavy brown barring. This provides camouflage as they hunt within forests.
Example Broad-Winged Hawk Underside
Swainson’s Hawk
Swainson’s hawks are slim, long-winged hawks that migrate annually between North America and South America. Adults have gray-brown backs and white undersides with variable dark streaking. Their wings are pointed and slender.
Specifically, Swainson’s hawks have predominantly white undersides with dark streaks and markings. The legs are feathered white but typically lack streaks. Some individuals can show reddish or brown hues on the chest and wing linings.
Immature Swainson’s hawks have brown back and wings. Their undersides are white with heavy dark brown streaking, providing camouflage. The tail has narrow brown bands.
So in summary, Swainson’s hawks have mostly white undersides with dark variable streaking. When viewed from below, the streaks resemble shadows helping them blend into the sky while soaring and hunting.
Example Swainson’s Hawk Underside
Rough-Legged Hawk
Rough-legged hawks are large raptors that breed in Arctic regions and migrate south through North America in winter. They have broad wings and long tails to aid hunting in open country.
Adult rough-legged hawks can come in pale or dark morphs. The pale morph has a white tail base and white undersides with heavy dark streaking down the chest and wing linings. The legs are feathered white but streaked brownish.
The dark morph has a dark belly band and underside streaks blending together into an overall dusky brown underside. The tail base is also brownish rather than white. Legs remain feathered and streaked.
Immature rough-legged hawks resemble washed out dark morph adults. Their undersides are mottled white and brown with less defined streaks. The tail base is whitish with a wide brown subterminal band.
So in summary, rough-legged hawks have streaked and mottled white undersides that provide camouflage while hovering and hunting over open country. The extent of dark markings allows for identification of morphs.
Example Rough-Legged Hawk Undersides
| Pale Morph | Dark Morph |
|---|---|
Ferruginous Hawk
The ferruginous hawk is a large, open-country hawk of western North America. Adults have grayish backs and pale undersides with some reddish markings. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Specifically, ferruginous hawks have predominantly white undersides with some rusty streaks or spots on the legs, chest, and wing linings. The legs are white but faintly barred grayish. The undertail coverts are white.
Immature ferruginous hawks have heavily streaked undersides with mostly white ground color and dark brown streaks. This provides camouflage in the grasslands. Their legs are whitish with brown barring.
So in summary, ferruginous hawks have mostly unmarked, pale undersides that distinguish them from other large hawks when viewed from below. Some faint reddish markings on the chest and legs help with identification.
Example Ferruginous Hawk Underside
Conclusion
In conclusion, most hawks share some common traits in their underside plumage and coloration. They tend to have pale undersides, often white or light gray, with darker streaks, spots, or barring. These markings help provide camouflage when viewed from below while the hawks are hunting or in flight. The specific patterns and colors can aid identifying different hawk species in the field along with other traits. But there is considerable variation between individuals, ages, and morphs within a species. The white or pale base color serves as background matching the sky, while the darker markings break up the bird’s outline like shadows and textures. So a typical hawk’s underside can be described as pale with tactical dark accents.
