There are a few hawk species that can make vocalizations resembling a cat’s meow. This is an interesting adaptation that likely helps these hawks mimic other animals as a strategy to capture prey or defend territory. Identifying which hawks make this cat-like call can be tricky for birders, but with some audio clues and visual confirmations, certain species stand out as the top “meowing hawks.”
Red-shouldered Hawk
The red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) is a strong candidate for hawks that sound like cats. This medium-sized raptor inhabits forests and wetlands of North America and is known for its loud, whistling calls. However, it can also make mewing or meowing sounds very reminiscent of a house cat.
The red-shouldered hawk uses cat-like vocalizations in different contexts. Both males and females may meow to communicate with each other while nesting and rearing young. These contact calls help the pair stay in touch and coordinate hunting and defending the nest area. Meows are also used as a territorial call to ward off intruders. The meowing sounds are often made while performing circular soaring flights over the nest territory.
So if you hear persistent meowing coming from a forest, look up to try and spot a red-shouldered hawk soaring overhead or perched in a tree. The reddish-brown barring on the breast and black-and-white striped wings are key identification clues. Listen for other whistling and screaming calls too, as meows are only part of this hawk’s diverse vocal repertoire.
Northern Goshawk
Another likely meowing hawk candidate is the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). As its name suggests, this fierce accipiter is found throughout northern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. The northern goshawk inhabits mature forests and is a bold predator, even preying on large birds like grouse.
The northern goshawk uses a croaking “kak kak” call and loud alarm screams, but it can also make a cat-like mewing sound. This call is thought to be used by females communicating with their mates during the breeding season. The mews may help a female goshawk confirm the presence of her mate and signal readiness for breeding activities.
Look for the bold white “eyebrow” line and alternating light gray and dark gray plumage to identify a vocalizing northern goshawk. Listen for its other deeper croaking calls and loud alarm screams too. But that odd intermittent meowing you hear in the forest may well be a female northern goshawk calling for her mate.
Cooper’s Hawk
The Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a crow-sized woodland hawk adapted to hunting songbirds. As an accipiter hawk built for maneuverability in forests, it shares the short wings and long tails of the northern goshawk. Cooper’s hawks are found throughout North America in both rural and urban areas.
While Cooper’s hawks are best known for their loud “kak kak kak” distress calls, they have a wide range of vocalizations. Both sexes give a “coo-coo-coo” contact call year-round which has an almost pigeon-like quality. However, during the breeding season, these contact calls can sound much more like a meowing cat.
Watch for a small but powerful-looking hawk with blue-gray upperparts and reddish barring on the underparts to confirm the Cooper’s hawk identity. Listen for other chattering “kak” alarm calls and crows of agitation too. But that cat-like mewing you hear near a forest edge may signal the presence of a communicating Cooper’s hawk pair.
Other Possible Meowing Hawks
While the red-shouldered, northern goshawk, and Cooper’s hawk seem like the most likely hawk suspects for cat-like meows, a few other raptors may sometimes give similar vocalizations:
- Sharp-shinned Hawk: A small woodland accipiter closely related to the Cooper’s hawk. Its rapid “kak kak” may occasionally sound faintly cat-like.
- Red-tailed Hawk: Common large buteo hawk of open country known for “kee-eee-arr” calls. But mewing notes are sometimes mixed in.
- Eurasian Sparrowhawk: Similar to the northern goshawk and found in Europe and Asia. May rarely include mewing in breeding season vocalizations.
So while not definitively documented in these species, it’s possible cat-like meows may turn up in other hawk vocalizations too. Unusual calls or mimicking sounds are not uncommon in birds as flexible communication strategies.
Function of Meowing Calls in Hawks
The meowing vocalizations of hawks likely serve several functions related to communication:
- Contact calls – Meows allow hawks, especially mated pairs, to locate each other and remain in auditory contact while out of visual range.
- Territorial signals – Meowing helps hawks identify territory ownership and may ward off intruders.
- Courtship – Unusual mewing sounds are thought to play a role in breeding activities and cementing the pair bond.
- Deception – Mimicking cat meows could mislead prey or trick competitors through vocal deception.
Researchers still have much to learn about the contexts, meanings, and uses of various hawk vocalizations like cat-like meowing. But current evidence suggests they play important roles in communication, territoriality, courtship, and potentially deception.
How to Tell a Hawk Meow from an Actual Cat
Telling apart a meowing hawk from a regular house cat takes careful listening and observation. Here are some clues to help identify the source:
- Location – Is the meowing coming from a forest or natural area where hawks would occur rather than near homes?
- Movement – Look for a large bird flying or perched on a high branch, contrasting with a cat likely on the ground.
- Repetition – Hawks typically meow less frequently than restless house cats.
- Pitch – Hawks tend to have hoarser, rougher sounding meows compared to a cat’s cries.
- Time of year – Meowing hawks are most vocal during breeding season.
- Other sounds – Watch for other typical hawk screams or chattering calls.
Carefully listening and scanning the trees and sky helps distinguish a hawk using cat-like meowing sounds from actual cats making their agitated meows on the ground. With practice, birders can learn to tell the difference.
Conclusion
Certain hawk species like the red-shouldered hawk, northern goshawk, and Cooper’s hawk are the prime suspects for producing vocalizations that resemble cat meows. These unusual sounds are thought to facilitate communication between mates and territorial rivals. Mimicking other animals may also help hawks expand their vocal versatility. Distinguishing hawk meows from real cats requires careful observation of location, behavior, and additional context clues. But familiarity with these cat-like vocalizations can help bird enthusiasts better understand the communication strategies of hawks. With improved awareness, we can appreciate whenever a hawk channels its inner feline with a distinctly cat-like meow overhead.
