Hawks in South Carolina: Where to See Them and How to Identify Them

Hawks are widespread across the state, but your best odds are in open habitats: coastal marshes, savannas, and agricultural fields. In the Lowcountry, try the ACE Basin and Francis Marion National Forest. In the Midlands, Congaree National Park offers good sightings along the floodplain. Upstate, focus on forest edges near Table Rock and the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Red-shouldered hawks prefer wetlands, while red-tailed hawks hunt along roadsides and powerline cuts.

Hawks are present year-round in South Carolina, but migration brings the highest numbers in fall (September through November) and spring (March to April). Early morning, from sunrise to about 10 a.m., is prime for soaring raptors as thermals begin to form. Late afternoon, around 4 p.m. to dusk, also sees increased activity as birds hunt before roosting. For identification practice, start at our hawk ID page to learn key field marks.

Focus on tail patterns and wing shape. Red-tailed hawks have a brown tail that turns reddish above, while red-shouldered hawks show bold black-and-white banding and a translucent wing panel. Cooper's hawks have a rounded tail and shorter wings; sharp-shinned hawks are smaller with a squared-off tail. Compare with vultures: hawks have broad, rounded wings and soar with wings held flat, while vultures hold a dihedral. Bald eagles are larger with a white head. See more on our hawk identification guide.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Six species are common. Red-tailed Hawk: the most widespread, with a reddish tail seen in adults. Red-shouldered Hawk: common in woodlands and wetlands, with a distinctive call. Cooper's Hawk: a forest dweller that hunts birds at feeders. Sharp-shinned Hawk: smaller, more secretive, also a bird hunter. Broad-winged Hawk: a forest migrant seen in large flocks during fall. Northern Harrier: a marsh hawk with a white rump patch. For detailed profiles, visit the hawk species page.

During fall migration, coastal sites like Hilton Head Island and Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge host large numbers of broad-winged and Cooper's hawks. In the upstate, Caesars Head State Park is a classic hawk watch site with an official count. Spring migration is less concentrated but watch for red-tailed hawks moving through the Piedmont. Local Audubon chapters often post daily counts on eBird. Check our South Carolina wildlife page for more resources.