The broadwinged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a small hawk that breeds in eastern North America. It is known for its high-pitched, whistling call which naturalists often describe as a “pee-ah” or “pee-eee-ah” sound.
The broadwinged hawk’s call serves several important functions related to communication, territory defense, and mating rituals. Understanding the characteristics and context of the broadwinged hawk’s call can provide insights into the behavior and ecology of this fascinating raptor.
What Does the Broadwinged Hawk’s Call Sound Like?
The most distinctive vocalization of the broadwinged hawk is its alarm call or territorial advertisement call. This is a loud, whistling “pee-ah” or “pee-eee-ah” sound that carries over long distances. The call consists of a single, high-pitched note that lasts for about a second, often repeated multiple times in succession.
To human ears, the broadwinged hawk’s call is piercing and repetitive. The voice and pitch of the call does not vary significantly between individual hawks. Ornithologists describe the call as a “plaintive, whistled peee-ah.” The “eee” rises in pitch and the “ah” falls slightly.
This simple, whistled call is often repeated multiple times, with a pause of a few seconds between each repetition. When agitated, the hawk may vocalize the call more frequently.
You can listen to recordings of the broadwinged hawk’s call online to get a sense of the unique vocalization. Some describe it as sounding like a referee’s whistle. Others liken it to the cry of a human infant. However it is described, the broadwinged hawk’s peee-ah call is loud, shrill, and very distinctive.
When and Why Does the Broadwinged Hawk Call?
Broadwinged hawks use their signature peee-ah call in a variety of different contexts. Some of the main situations when the call is heard include:
– Territorial defense – Broadwinged hawks are highly territorial during the breeding season. The peee-ah call loudly announces that a nest site is occupied. Both male and female hawks give the territorial call. They may call back and forth to defend the area.
– Alarm call – When disturbed near the nest, broadwinged hawks issue the call. This functions to alert the mate and signal a threat.
– Courting display – Male broadwinged hawks often perform dramatic courtship displays for females that involve soaring and plummeting while vocalizing.
– Communication between mates – The peee-ah call helps pairs keep in contact with each other around the nesting territory. One hawk may signal the other with the call.
– Begging call by offspring – Young broadwinged hawks in the nest give a version of the peee-ah call when begging for food from the parents.
So in summary, the repetitive peee-ah whistling functions as a territorial proclamation, a signal of alarm or aggression, and a form of communication between mates and offspring. The context usually indicates how the call is being used by the hawk.
Unique Characteristics of the Call
The broadwinged hawk’s peee-ah call has several unique characteristics that make it easily identifiable:
– High pitch – The call contains very high, whistling frequencies. This allows it to carry over long distances.
– Simple, repeated notes – Each call consists of just one to three whistled notes in succession. The simplicity and repetition creates a piercing vocalization.
– Consistency – Individual broadwinged hawks all sound very similar. The call does not vary significantly between birds.
– Loud volume – The peee-ah is among the louder calls of forest raptors. This helps signal aggression and defend the nest area.
– Distinct from other hawks – While other Buteo hawks also have whistling calls, the broadwinged hawk’s vocalization is simpler and more repetitive than its relatives. This helps birders distinguish the species.
So in summary, the characteristics of repetition, simplicity, high pitch, loud volume, and consistency uniquely identify the call as the broadwinged hawk. Becoming familiar with the peee-ah helps birdwatchers recognize this hawk’s presence.
Behavior When Calling
Broadwinged hawks engage in some typical behaviors when vocalizing their signature call:
– Perched upright – Hawks issue the call while perched in an upright, alert posture, often from a high tree branch.
– Head tilted back – The hawk frequently tilts its head back while calling, projecting the voice upward.
– Wings drooped – Wings may be slightly drooped when calling.
– Tail fanned – Fanning and spreading the tail feathers often accompanies the call.
– Soaring flight – Males perform dramatic sky dances, plummeting and soaring while vocalizing to attract females.
– Beak open – Open mouth and beak shape helps direct and amplify the vocalization.
– Territorial display – Calling often coincides with upright body posture and aggressive attitude to defend territory.
– Return calls – Mated pairs may call back and forth, with one hawk answering the other.
So calling is an active process that involves specific postures and behaviors that help project and direct the voice. Familiarity with the visual aspects of calling helps observers associate the sound with typical hawk behaviors.
Variation and Dialects
The broadwinged hawk’s peee-ah call is remarkably consistent across the species’ range. There is little geographic variation or differentiation into regional dialects.
However, some minor variations may be noted:
– Higher pitches in western populations – Calls may contain slightly higher frequencies in western North American broadwinged hawks.
– Longer calls in the south – Southern populations may vocalize calls that are slightly longer in duration.
– Higher volume in the north – Northern hawks may produce the peee-ah at a relatively louder volume.
– Juvenile calls less consistent – Young birds have calls that are more variable and less repetitive until they mature.
– Regional accents unknown – No clear regional accents or dialect patterns are known.
So while minor geographic variations may exist, the species exhibits a surprisingly uniform call across its continental range. The consistent call likely helps hawks identify conspecifics (members of the same species) wherever they encounter them.
Identification Tips
The following tips can help birders reliably identify the signature peee-ah call of the broadwinged hawk:
– Listen for loud, whistling notes – The loud volume and piercing quality of the call is a key identifier.
– Note the repetitive pattern – Listen for a call consisting of just one or two syllables repeated in a steady pattern.
– Compare pitch and tone – The high pitch and tone of the broadwinged call distinguishes it from deeper or raspier hawk calls.
– Memorize the sound – Familiarize yourself with recordings of the call so you can recognize it in the field.
– Consider the habitat – In eastern forests, a loud whistling call often means broadwinged.
– Triangulate the source – Scan tree branches carefully to spot the calling hawk.
– Watch for associated behaviors – Erect posture, fanned tail, and calling in pairs provide visual clues.
– Distinguish from look-alikes – Compare notes from birds books or apps to confirm ID.
With practice listening, the broadwinged hawk’s loud, repetitive peee-ah whistles will become a familiar and tell-tale sound of these widespread raptors.
Behaviour and Ecology
Understanding some key aspects of broadwinged hawk behavior and ecology helps explain why the peee-ah call is so important:
– Social and non-migratory – Broadwings are highly social, traveling in flocks known as kettles, but separating into pairs to breed.
– Small hawk species – Weighing only 1/2 pound, broadwings are North America’s smallest Buteo hawk.
– Forest nesters – They nest in forest habitats across eastern North America. Nesting territory is aggressively defended.
– Form lifelong pair bonds – Broadwings mate for life. Vocal communication helps pairs stay in contact.
– Short breeding season – Breeding and rearing young happens in a brief 2-3 month period from May-July.
– Feed mainly on reptiles and amphibians – Their diet is more varied than many hawks. Vocalizations help alert of food sources.
– Soaring, acrobatic flight – Broadwings are agile, speedy fliers that use uplifting thermal air currents.
So the need to defend breeding territory in dense forests and maintain pair bonds explains the evolution of the far-carrying, repetitive peee-ah call in this species.
Conclusion
The broadwinged hawk produces a loud, simple whistled call often described as “pee-ah” or “pee-eee-ah.” This functions as a territorial proclamation, signal of alarm, and communication between mates. The consistent, repetitive call carries over long distances thanks to its high pitch and volume. Becoming familiar with the piercing peee-ah call is key to identifying broadwinged hawks in the field. Understanding the ecological role of the vocalization provides insight into the behavior of this social, forest-dwelling hawk species.
