Hawks in South Dakota: where to see them and how to identify them

Your best bet is the western half of the state. The open prairie around the Badlands and the wooded draws of the Black Hills hold good numbers of Red-tailed, Swainson's, and Ferruginous Hawks. Along the Missouri River, look for raptors perched on fence posts and power poles. In winter, check the edges of farm fields near the Missouri where Rough-legged Hawks often hunt.

In South Dakota, hawks sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to where in the state sightings are most likely. Use the state wildlife hub and the route guide to narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.

Spring (April to early May) and fall (September to October) bring the highest numbers as migrants pass through. Mid-morning after the ground warms up is ideal because hawks start thermalling. Winter is good for Rough-legged Hawks and occasional Ferruginous. In summer, early morning and late afternoon are best when hawks are actively hunting.

Start with size and tail pattern. Red-tailed Hawks have a classic dark belly band and a rusty red tail (adults). Swainson's Hawks are longer-winged with a dark chest and pale belly, and they often soar with wings in a slight dihedral. Ferruginous Hawks are the largest, with a white underside and dark legs forming a "V" shape when seen from below. Compare with Turkey Vultures: they hold their wings in a pronounced V and rock side to side. For more on hawk ID, check out our general hawk identification page.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Red-tailed Hawk is the most common year-round. Swainson's Hawk is abundant in summer, especially west of the Missouri. Rough-legged Hawk visits in winter. Ferruginous Hawk is less common but regularly seen in the dry prairies of the west. Cooper's Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk occur in wooded areas, but they're smaller and trickier to ID.

Scan fence lines and utility poles along rural roads. Bring binoculars with at least 8x magnification. Learn to recognize the silhouette of a soaring hawk versus a vulture. Use the wind: hawks often hunt facing into the wind. In the Black Hills, look for nests on cliff faces. For a full overview of South Dakota's birding hotspots, visit our South Dakota wildlife hub.