Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons in Wisconsin

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

Eagles

There are two types of eagles native to Wisconsin.

• Bald Eagle
• Golden Eagle

The bald eagle population was once imperiled, but thanks to conservation efforts, as of 2023, there are 1,600 nesting pairs in the state. Late March or early April is the egg-laying season.

Hawks

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

The sharp-shinned hawk is the smallest in the state. It can be found all over Wisconsin. They migrate north to Alaska and Canada to breed each year and south to Central America in the winter. 

The small broad-winged hawks are more common in summer, while the large red-tailed hawks are more common in winter. The latter hawk makes a screaming, hoarse “kee-eeeee-arr” sound while soaring. During courtship, they also make a shrill “chwirk”, sometimes emitting several such calls in a row.

Falcons

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

Ospreys

• Osprey

Harriers

• Northern Harrier

The best bald eagle-viewing spot in the Badger State is on the Wisconsin River in Sauk-Prairie, especially below the Prairie du Sac Hydroelectric Dam during winter. The Fox Valley is a wintering hotspot for bald eagles, with January to early February being the best times for watching. Active nests can be found in inland nesting areas and along major rivers like the Lower Wisconsin, Wolf, Chippewa, and Mississippi.