The broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a medium-sized bird of prey found in deciduous and mixed forests across much of North America. This secretive hawk builds its nest high up in trees, using a platform of sticks and twigs. Read on to learn more about where the broad-winged hawk chooses to nest and raise its young.
Nesting Habits
The broad-winged hawk nests in mature deciduous or mixed forests, favoring areas with a dense canopy. Its breeding range stretches across much of the eastern and central United States and Canada, as well as parts of Mexico and Central America.
This hawk chooses to build its nest high up in large trees, typically 25-50 feet above the ground. Favorite nest trees include oaks, maples, hickories, and conifers. The nest is constructed of sticks and twigs and lined with bark strips and fresh leaves. Nests are usually placed in a fork or on a horizontal branch near the trunk.
Both the male and female participate in nest building. The nests are typically around 2 feet wide and 6 inches tall. The broad-winged hawk may reuse and refurbish the same nest for several years in a row.
The broad-winged hawk prefers to nest in mature forests with a semi-open understory. This forest structure provides clear flyways below the canopy for hunting while also offering seclusion. Nests are often built near forest openings, edges, or corridors such as streams.
This hawk tends to avoid nesting near human disturbance. Studies have found nests are more likely to be placed in areas of the forest with lower road density.
Nesting Season
The broad-winged hawk’s breeding season lasts from April through July across most of its range. The actual timing of nest building and egg laying varies depending on latitude:
- Southern populations may start nesting activities in March.
- Those in the northern parts of the range nest later, from May through July.
Upon arriving at the breeding grounds after migration, the male will begin choosing a nest site and building the initial platform. The female joins in constructing the inner cup of the nest.
Once the nest is complete, the female lays 1-3 pale white eggs speckled with brown spots. The female does the majority of incubating, which lasts for 28-35 days. The nestlings hatch in the sequence the eggs were laid, so there may be some difference in size between siblings.
The young fledge the nest at around 5-6 weeks old but remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks as they learn to hunt.
Range of the Broad-winged Hawk
The broad-winged hawk has a breeding range that stretches across much of the eastern half of North America. This includes:
- Eastern United States from Minnesota to Texas east to the Atlantic Coast
- Southern Canada from Manitoba to Quebec
- Mexico along the Gulf Coast and interior highlands
- Disjunct populations in Central America
The broad-winged hawk migrates in large flocks known as kettles to spend the winter in South America. Its wintering range includes:
- Panama
- Colombia
- Venezuela
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Paraguay
- Argentina
Though broad-winged hawks are commonly seen throughout their breeding range, they are actually quite secretive around the nest. Their choice of lofty nest sites helps protect eggs and nestlings from predators and human interference.
Ideal Nesting Habitat
When selecting a nesting site, broad-winged hawks look for these key habitat features:
- Mature trees: Favors deciduous or mixed forests >60 years old with tall trees for nesting.
- Closed canopy: Seeks areas with a canopy cover >80% to provide seclusion.
- Semi-open understory: Hunts best with clear flyways below nest site.
- Water access: Often nests near streams, rivers, wetlands, or ponds.
- Low human disturbance: Avoids areas with high road density, development, and edges.
Preferred nest trees are tall mature specimens with sturdy, horizontal branches high off the ground. Oaks, hickories, and maples offer good nesting structure. Nests are typically built 25-50 feet high on a branch fork against the trunk.
Threats to Nesting
Although the broad-winged hawk remains common over much of its range, its nesting habits face several key threats:
- Forest fragmentation – Prefers large forest tracts; avoids nesting near edges and openings.
- Logging – Needs mature stands; sensitive to loss of large old-growth trees.
- Human disturbance – Can abandon nests due to noise, roads, and development.
- Severe weather – Storms and high winds can blow nests down.
- Predators – Eggs or unfledged young are vulnerable to snakes, raccoons, crows.
Maintaining suitable nesting habitat is key to preserving populations of the broad-winged hawk. Conservation efforts that protect large mature forest stands from logging and fragmentation can help safeguard nest sites.
Fun Facts About Broad-winged Hawk Nests
- Nest height averages around 35 feet but can reach as high as 90 feet up!
- In one study, lowest nest was found just 6 feet high in a sapling.
- Both males and females help build the nest over a period of 1-2 weeks.
- Nests are typically lined with bark strips, fresh deciduous leaves, and lichen.
- Old nests may be reused and refurbished for up to 5 years.
- Abandoned nests of other hawks, crows, or squirrels may also be adopted and refurbished.
- Most nest failures occur during egg-laying; less than 15% fail once eggs hatch.
Fledged Young
If all goes well, a broad-winged hawk nest will successfully produce 1-3 fledglings each season. Here are some facts about the young hawks once they leave the nest:
- Fledge at 5-6 weeks old, but remain dependent on parents for 4-6 more weeks.
- Parents continue bringing food to young while teaching them to hunt.
- Juveniles have mottled brown plumage unlike adult’s gray-and-white pattern.
- Young hawks migrate south separately from adults a few weeks later in the fall.
- Average lifespan in wild is 5-6 years; oldest known lived to be 14.
With attentive parenting from both the male and female, the young broad-winged hawks grow and gain flight skills until they are ready to migrate and hunt on their own.
Summary
The broad-winged hawk nests high in mature deciduous or mixed forests across eastern North America. It builds a stick nest usually 25-50 feet up in a tree fork, lined with bark and fresh leaves. Nesting habitat with tall old trees, closed canopy, semi-open understory, and minimal human disturbance provides the seclusion and clear flyways these hawks prefer. Though broad-winged hawk populations remain healthy, protecting large contiguous forest tracts will be key for the long-term survival of this secretive forest raptor.