Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons in Kansas

Kansas is home to diverse raptors like eagles, falcons, and hawks. They include notable species such as red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, and prairie falcons. They are vital predators, contributing to pest control and serving as indicators of habitat health and sustainability.

List of Different Types of Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons in Kansas

Eagles

There are only two types of eagles native to Kansas.

Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle

The bald eagle – the emblem of the United States – was a rare sight in Kansas from the time of the first settlement till 1989, primarily due to poisoning, shooting, and rampant use of the pesticide DDT. After a 1940 act prohibiting their hunting and the ban on DDT in 1972, their population slowly began to recover. In 2020, the state had a record 175 active nests of the bald eagle.

Hawks

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
American Goshawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Harris’s Hawk (Accidental)
Gray Hawk (Accidental)

The large hawks of Kansas are the red-tailed and ferruginous hawks. The latter is, in fact, the largest hawk in North America. The former is the most common in the state, with most sightings recorded in the summer and winter months. Despite being the smallest hawk in Kansas, the sharp-shinned hawk is incredibly acrobatic and athletic.

Falcons

American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Prairie Falcon
Crested Caracara (Accidental)
Gyrfalcon (Accidental)

Ospreys

Osprey

Harriers

Northern Harrier

Eagle watchers can head to the Kaw to see the bald eagles build nests along its banks, fish below the Bowersock Dam in winter, and hunt ducks and geese in wetlands and sandbars in the river. Nesting ferruginous hawks can be sighted along the Smoky Hill River, westward from Gove County.