Hawks in Indiana: Where to See Them and How to Identify Them

Hawks are most often seen in the northern and central parts of the state, particularly around open agricultural land and large wetlands. Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County is a reliable spot year-round for Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks. Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Jasper County hosts a well-known fall migration of broad-winged hawks, with peak counts in late September. The Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge in the southwest also holds good numbers, especially during migration. Urban parks like Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis can produce Coopers Hawks and Red-tails near feeding areas, particularly where songbirds concentrate. Tippecanoe Lake in the northeast and parts of the Kankakee River valley are also worth checking.

Fall migration (mid-September through October) offers the highest volume, especially at ridgetop watch sites like Jasper-Pulaski. Peak days often coincide with cool, clear weather following a cold front from the northwest. Spring migration (March to April) is also productive but more spread out and less predictable. Early morning (8-10 AM) is prime, as hawks ride rising thermals after the ground warms. Late afternoon can be good for hunting activity near dusk, particularly along forest edges where small birds are most active. In winter, look for Red-tailed Hawks perched along highways during the warmer part of the day, often on utility poles between fields. Summer offers fewer sightings, though breeding residents remain.

Red-tailed Hawk: Adults show a distinctive rusty red tail (upper side), a dark belly band, and a pale chest. They are bulkier, with broader wings and a heavier frame. Red-shouldered Hawk: Adults have reddish shoulders, a strongly banded black-and-white tail, and chestnut barring on the breast. They are slimmer and prefer wet woodland edges. In flight, Red-shoulders flap more frequently with quick glides, while Red-tails soar with wings slightly raised in a shallow V. Calling helps too, Red-tails produce a thin, descending whistle; Red-shoulders give a loud kee-rah. Juveniles of both species lack the bright colors, making field identification trickier. For more ID tips, check our full hawk identification guide at /animals/hawk.

The state premier migration site is Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in northwest Indiana (Newton County), where the Indiana Audubon Society operates an official count station each September. Thousands of broad-winged hawks funnel through here, with single-day records exceeding 6,000 birds. Cedar Lake in LaPorte County and Beverly Shores along Lake Michigan also see good flights, especially on days with northwest winds pushing migrants inland. The Hawkwatch at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis is a newer, smaller site open during migration. Check local Audubon chapter websites and ebird.org for official watch dates, as counts depend on volunteer coverage.

Turkey Vultures are often mistaken for hawks at a distance. Look for their silvery flight feathers (two-toned wings), teetering flight style, and small bare head. Northern Harriers have an owl-like facial disc and hold their wings in a shallow V while hunting. American Kestrels are much smaller, barely robin-sized, with two black facial stripes and rapid wingbeats. Buteos (Red-tailed, Red-shouldered) versus accipiters (Sharp-shinned, Coopers) differ in shape and behavior, buteos soar; accipiters flap-and-glide through trees. In Indiana, the most common confusion is between vultures and hawks, followed by accipiter versus buteo misidentification. See our Indiana wildlife overview at /wildlife/indiana for state-specific species.