Swainson's Hawk makes one of the longest migrations of any North American raptor, traveling in enormous flocks from the Great Plains to the Argentine pampas — a round trip of about 12,000 miles. It is highly variable in plumage but typically shows a brown bib contrasting with a white belly. On its wintering grounds it forages almost entirely on insects, gathering in flocks of thousands.
Best time to see a Swainson's Hawk
The best time to see a Swainson's Hawk is March–June, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 20,995 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Swainson's Hawk? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Swainson's Hawk sightings near you
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