Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons in Ohio

Ohio’s diverse landscape hosts a range of hawks, eagles, and falcons. The adaptable red-tailed hawk thrives in various habitats, from woodlands to farmlands. The bald eagle’s recovery owes to the revival of water ecosystems and the ban on harmful pesticides – timely conservation efforts made by the state. The peregrine falcon’s adaptability to urban areas highlights Ohio’s ecological richness.

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

Eagles

There are two types of eagles native to Ohio.

• Bald Eagle
• Golden Eagle

Bald eagles in the state lay eggs and incubate in February and March, nesting in large trees such as oaks, sycamores, and cottonwoods. After coming out of the clutches of endangerment, the birds have made a comeback in the state, with their numbers steadily increasing. In 2019, there were 707 eagle nests in Ohio; in 2022, it grew to 824.

Hawks

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

Cooper’s hawks are common woodland hawks that can be seen year-round in Ohio. Its alarm sound resembles a “kuck, kuck, kuck” or “cak-cak-cak.” The sound is bassier than the less common sharp-shinned hawk. The most common hawk here is the red-tailed hawk. State and federal laws protect all the hawk species. So you should cherish their beauty without doing them any harm.

Falcons

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

Ospreys

• Osprey

Harriers

• Northern Harrier

The Station Road Bridge Area in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the best place for bald eagle sightings in Ohio. Birders can also view bald eagles and their nests in Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve, East Harbor State Park, and Great Egret Marsh Preserve.