Hawks in Louisiana: where to see them and how to identify them

Hawks in Louisiana are most often seen in open habitats with scattered perches. Look for them along coastal marshes, agricultural fields, and forest edges. The coastal areas around Grand Isle and Cameron Prairie are reliable spots. Inland, the pine forests of Kisatchie National Forest host resident species. Check our animals/hawk page for species-specific habitat preferences.

Fall migration from mid-September through October offers the highest numbers as broad-winged hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and Cooper's hawks pass through. Spring migration (March to April) also brings good activity with more visible courtship displays. Resident red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks can be seen all year, but their visibility peaks during the cooler months. For more seasonal tips, visit the Louisiana wildlife hub.

Early morning (7 to 10 a.m.) and late afternoon (4 to 6 p.m.) are the best times because hawks ride thermals and hunt actively. Midday heat often pushes them to shaded perches, making sightings less frequent. Overcast days can extend activity. Start your outing at sunrise for the best odds.

Look at the tail and underside. Red-tailed hawks have a pale belly with a dark band across it and a brick-red tail (visible from above). Red-shouldered hawks show a barred orange belly and a tail with narrow white bands. In flight, red-shoulders have translucent crescents near their wing tips, while red-tails have a more uniform wing shape. These differences are reliable even at a distance.

Besides the common red-tailed and red-shouldered, you can spot Cooper's hawks (wooded suburbs), sharp-shinned hawks (smaller, fast flyers in migration), broad-winged hawks (forest aggregations during fall), and northern harriers (low over marshes). Swallow-tailed kites are also seen in summer but are not true hawks. Check the hawk identification page for side-by-side comparisons.