Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons in California

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

Eagles

• Bald Eagle
• Golden Eagle

Hawks

• Red-Tailed Hawk
• Red-Shouldered Hawk
• Cooper’s Hawk 
• Swainson’s Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Ferruginous Hawk 
• Northern Goshawk
• Sharp-Shinned Hawk
• Zone-tailed Hawk
• Harris’s Hawk
• Common Black Hawk (Accidental)
• Gray Hawk (Accidental)

Besides the above, broad-winged hawks are also found in the state but are extremely uncommon and can only be seen during migration. Southern California has the red-tailed, ferruginous, red-shouldered, Cooper’s, and sharp-shinned hawks. The northern goshawk is more common in Northern California.

Falcons

The peregrine falcon is commonly seen year-round in the state. On the other hand, the prairie falcon can be spotted year-round in Southern California, with their numbers increasing from November to January.

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

Harriers

• Northern Harrier

The bald eagle can be seen in many lakes like Baldwin Lake, Big Bear Lake, Silverwood Lake, and Lake Arrowhead. In spring and winter, you can also spot them in the Monterey Bay area. The red-tailed hawks are common year-round in California along forest edges, prairie groves, open woodlands, and any place with trees or tall perches and open hunting grounds.