Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons in Delaware

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

Eagles

More than 100 eagles migrate to Delaware, especially the Upper Delaware River valley, in the winter, searching for favorable habitats when the Northern USA and Canada waterbodies have frozen.

• Bald Eagle
• Golden Eagle

Hawks

The red-tailed hawk, the most common in North America, is a year-round resident of the state. Their population increases in the winter when birds that have spent the summer in Canada come down to join them. The sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest in Delaware.

• Broad-winged hawk
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Northern Goshawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Red-shouldered Hawk

Falcons

The fastest animal on the planet, the peregrine falcon, loves nesting at the sides of tall buildings. This is why it is found commonly across the cities of Delaware. The smallest in the state is the American kestrel, also known as the sparrow hawk.

• Peregrine Falcon
• American Kestrel
• Merlin

Ospreys

• Osprey

Harriers

• Northern Harrier

It can be found year-round in the state but is more common in winter along the coast.

Bald eagle watching is a popular activity in the Pocono Mountains. December through March is the best time to spot them in the Lackawaxen and Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational Rivers. Popular hawk watches are the Ashland Nature Center and Cape Henlopen State Park. The latter also has falcons and ospreys.