8 Types of Hawks in Alaska
Alaska hosts eight regularly occurring hawk species, making it one of North America's best regions for raptor diversity. The most widespread are the resident Red-tailed Hawk and the migratory Rough-legged Hawk, found from coastal lowlands to interior tundra. You'll also encounter forest accipiters (Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and Northern Goshawk), with rare migrants like Swainson's and Ferruginous Hawks during spring and fall. Most sightings occur along the southcentral coast and interior river valleys. Start with the most common species and compare field marks to avoid confusion with eagles and falcons. Learn the key identification features for each, and your hawk-watching success in Alaska will improve dramatically.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 27, 2026.
Verified species, source iNaturalist
8 types of hawks recorded in Alaska
8 hawk species have a verified observation record in Alaska across the hawk family (Accipitridae), which also includes eagles, kites and harriers, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
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Plus 4 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations. Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.
Alaska hosts eight regularly occurring hawk species, making it one of North America's best regions for raptor diversity. The most widespread are the resident Red-tailed Hawk and the migratory Rough-legged Hawk, found from coastal lowlands to interior tundra. You'll also encounter forest accipiters (Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and Northern Goshawk), with rare migrants like Swainson's and Ferruginous Hawks during spring and fall. Most sightings occur along the southcentral coast and interior river valleys. Start with the most common species and compare field marks to avoid confusion with eagles and falcons. Learn the key identification features for each, and your hawk-watching success in Alaska will improve dramatically.
What hawks can you see in Alaska?
Alaska has about eight regularly occurring hawk species, but only a few are commonly seen. The resident Red-tailed Hawk and the migratory Rough-legged Hawk are the most widespread. In the boreal forests, you'll find accipiters like Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and the larger Northern Goshawk. Rare visitors include Swainson's Hawk (mostly during migration) and Ferruginous Hawk (prairie species, very rare). For more on each bird, check ourhawk identification page.
How do you tell apart the most common lookalikes?
The biggest ID challenge is separating Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. Red-tails have a dark belly band and a reddish tail (adults), while Rough-leggeds have feathered legs (visible in flight) and often a dark belly and pale tail base with a dark band. Accipiters are trickier: Sharp-shinned have a square tail, Cooper's a rounded tail, and Goshawks are much larger with a bold white brow. Juvenile hawks can be especially confusing, so focus on wing shape and tail patterns.
Where in Alaska do people usually spot hawks first?
Most hawk watchers start on the Kenai Peninsula and around Anchorage's coastal trails. The Seward Highway draws raptors in spring and fall. In the Interior, the Tanana and Yukon river valleys offer good coverage. For a broader view, visit ourAlaska wildlife hubfor regional guides. Hawks also follow mountain passes near Denali National Park, where you can see Rough-legged Hawks hunting in open tundra.
See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
What time of year gives you the best odds?
Spring migration (mid-April through May) brings the highest diversity, with Swainson's and Ferruginous passing through. Summer (June to August) is best for resident Red-tails and nesting accipiters. Fall migration (August to October) can be good in coastal sites like Homer. Winter offers Rough-legged Hawks in open fields along the road system, but sightings are less predictable. Early morning and late afternoon provide the most active hunting periods.
How can you plan a hawk-watching trip in Alaska?
A focused trip to coastal headlands or inland river corridors can yield multiple species in a day. Check local eBird hotspots before you go. Use the widget below to compare travel options and lodging near prime hawk areas. Start with popular sites like Potter Marsh in Anchorage or Creamer's Field in Fairbanks.
What are the key identification details for Red-tailed Hawks?
Red-tailed Hawks are the most likely buteo in Alaska. Look for a broad, rounded wing, a dark belly band across a pale belly, and a rusty-red tail (adults). Juveniles have a brown tail with dark bars. They perch on roadside poles and near meadows. The western subspecies (Buteo jamaicensis calurus) is common; some intergrade with Harlan's Hawk (dark morph with mottled tail) in the northern part of the state.
How about the smaller accipiters: Sharp-shinned and Cooper's?
Both are woodland hawks with short, rounded wings and a long tail. Sharp-shinned Hawk (our smallest) has a square tail tip, a small head, and thin legs. Cooper's Hawk is slightly larger with a rounded tail tip and a larger head. Northern Goshawk is much bigger, with a bold white eyebrow stripe and a thick bill. Accipiters are often seen zipping through feeders or forest edges. They are more secretive than buteos.
What distinguishes Rough-legged Hawks from other species in Alaska?
Rough-legged Hawks are often the second-most abundant hawk you'll see in Alaska, especially in migration and winter. They are medium-sized buteos with fully feathered legs (which give them their name), dark bellies, pale tail bases, and a dark terminal tail band. They hover and hunt in open tundra and grasslands, making them easier to spot than forest-dwelling species. Rough-legs breed in the Arctic and migrate through Alaska spring and fall, though some remain in open lowlands through winter. Their lightweight build and hovering behavior set them apart from Red-tails.
How do you identify the Northern Goshawk in Alaska?
The Northern Goshawk is the largest accipiter in Alaska and a formidable forest predator. Adults have slate-gray backs, rusty-barred underparts, and a bold white eyebrow stripe that runs above a dark eye (looking fierce and intent). Juveniles are brown with heavy streaking and lack the white brow. Goshawks have relatively broad, rounded wings and a long tail for agility in forest pursuit. They are secretive but occasionally seen launching from forest edges or pursuing waterfowl near forest openings. Listen for their loud, harsh call in breeding season (spring through summer in interior forests).
What common identification mistakes do hawk watchers make in Alaska?
Beginners often confuse juvenile Red-tailed Hawks with Rough-legged Hawks because both can show dark bellies and pale markings. Focus on the leg feathering visible in flight (Rough-legs have it, Red-tails don't) and tail pattern. Another trap is mistaking Swainson's Hawks (rare migrants) for Red-tails; Swainson's have a dark chest-band, not a belly band. Some watchers also overlook Northern Goshawks because they're forest-bound and relatively rare; if you see a large gray accipiter with a bold white brow, you've found a prize. Take field notes on wing shape, size, and exact plumage pattern rather than jumping to a conclusion.
What is the most common hawk in Alaska?
The Red-tailed Hawk is the most common and widespread hawk in Alaska. It nests throughout the state except on the North Slope. During migration, Rough-legged Hawks are also abundant in open areas. For a full list, see ourhawk identification page.
See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.
What gear or gifts help you celebrate hawk sightings?
After a successful day of hawk watching, many people want to bring home a memento. Here are a few picks:
Peregrine Falcon Retro Graphic Tee
A classic tee with a vintage falcon design, great for casual wear.Check Price and Availability
5X Hawk Sticker Set (5 pieces): Bird of Prey Car Stickers, Forest, Nature, Falconer, Bird
A set of durable stickers featuring different hawk species.Check Price and Availability
Hawk Tarot Card T-Shirt
A unique design blending a hawk illustration with tarot card art.Check Price and Availability
For more hawk-themed wall art, browse ourhawk art prints.
Gear and field guides
Frequently asked questions
What hawks can you see in Alaska?+
Alaska has about eight regularly occurring hawk species, but only a few are commonly seen. The resident Red-tailed Hawk and the migratory Rough-legged Hawk are the most widespread. In the boreal forests, you'll find accipiters like Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and the larger Northern Goshawk. Rare visitors include Swainson's Hawk (mostly during migration) and Ferruginous Hawk (prairie species, very rare). For more on each bird, check ourhawk identification page.
How do you tell apart the most common lookalikes?+
The biggest ID challenge is separating Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. Red-tails have a dark belly band and a reddish tail (adults), while Rough-leggeds have feathered legs (visible in flight) and often a dark belly and pale tail base with a dark band. Accipiters are trickier: Sharp-shinned have a square tail, Cooper's a rounded tail, and Goshawks are much larger with a bold white brow. Juvenile hawks can be especially confusing, so focus on wing shape and tail patterns.
Where in Alaska do people usually spot hawks first?+
Most hawk watchers start on the Kenai Peninsula and around Anchorage's coastal trails. The Seward Highway draws raptors in spring and fall. In the Interior, the Tanana and Yukon river valleys offer good coverage. For a broader view, visit ourAlaska wildlife hubfor regional guides. Hawks also follow mountain passes near Denali National Park, where you can see Rough-legged Hawks hunting in open tundra. See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
What time of year gives you the best odds?+
Spring migration (mid-April through May) brings the highest diversity, with Swainson's and Ferruginous passing through. Summer (June to August) is best for resident Red-tails and nesting accipiters. Fall migration (August to October) can be good in coastal sites like Homer. Winter offers Rough-legged Hawks in open fields along the road system, but sightings are less predictable. Early morning and late afternoon provide the most active hunting periods.
How can you plan a hawk-watching trip in Alaska?+
A focused trip to coastal headlands or inland river corridors can yield multiple species in a day. Check local eBird hotspots before you go. Use the widget below to compare travel options and lodging near prime hawk areas. Start with popular sites like Potter Marsh in Anchorage or Creamer's Field in Fairbanks.
What are the key identification details for Red-tailed Hawks?+
Red-tailed Hawks are the most likely buteo in Alaska. Look for a broad, rounded wing, a dark belly band across a pale belly, and a rusty-red tail (adults). Juveniles have a brown tail with dark bars. They perch on roadside poles and near meadows. The western subspecies (Buteo jamaicensis calurus) is common; some intergrade with Harlan's Hawk (dark morph with mottled tail) in the northern part of the state.
How about the smaller accipiters: Sharp-shinned and Cooper's?+
Both are woodland hawks with short, rounded wings and a long tail. Sharp-shinned Hawk (our smallest) has a square tail tip, a small head, and thin legs. Cooper's Hawk is slightly larger with a rounded tail tip and a larger head. Northern Goshawk is much bigger, with a bold white eyebrow stripe and a thick bill. Accipiters are often seen zipping through feeders or forest edges. They are more secretive than buteos.
What distinguishes Rough-legged Hawks from other species in Alaska?+
Rough-legged Hawks are often the second-most abundant hawk you'll see in Alaska, especially in migration and winter. They are medium-sized buteos with fully feathered legs (which give them their name), dark bellies, pale tail bases, and a dark terminal tail band. They hover and hunt in open tundra and grasslands, making them easier to spot than forest-dwelling species. Rough-legs breed in the Arctic and migrate through Alaska spring and fall, though some remain in open lowlands through winter. Their lightweight build and hovering behavior set them apart from Red-tails.
How do you identify the Northern Goshawk in Alaska?+
The Northern Goshawk is the largest accipiter in Alaska and a formidable forest predator. Adults have slate-gray backs, rusty-barred underparts, and a bold white eyebrow stripe that runs above a dark eye (looking fierce and intent). Juveniles are brown with heavy streaking and lack the white brow. Goshawks have relatively broad, rounded wings and a long tail for agility in forest pursuit. They are secretive but occasionally seen launching from forest edges or pursuing waterfowl near forest openings. Listen for their loud, harsh call in breeding season (spring through summer in interior forests).
What common identification mistakes do hawk watchers make in Alaska?+
Beginners often confuse juvenile Red-tailed Hawks with Rough-legged Hawks because both can show dark bellies and pale markings. Focus on the leg feathering visible in flight (Rough-legs have it, Red-tails don't) and tail pattern. Another trap is mistaking Swainson's Hawks (rare migrants) for Red-tails; Swainson's have a dark chest-band, not a belly band. Some watchers also overlook Northern Goshawks because they're forest-bound and relatively rare; if you see a large gray accipiter with a bold white brow, you've found a prize. Take field notes on wing shape, size, and exact plumage pattern rather than jumping to a conclusion.
What is the most common hawk in Alaska?+
The Red-tailed Hawk is the most common and widespread hawk in Alaska. It nests throughout the state except on the North Slope. During migration, Rough-legged Hawks are also abundant in open areas. For a full list, see ourhawk identification page. See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.
What gear or gifts help you celebrate hawk sightings?+
After a successful day of hawk watching, many people want to bring home a memento. Here are a few picks: ### Peregrine Falcon Retro Graphic Tee A classic tee with a vintage falcon design, great for casual wear.Check Price and Availability ### 5X Hawk Sticker Set (5 pieces): Bird of Prey Car Stickers, Forest, Nature, Falconer, Bird A set of durable stickers featuring different hawk species.Check Price and Availability ### Hawk Tarot Card T-Shirt A unique design blending a hawk illustration with tarot card art.Check Price and Availability For more hawk-themed wall art, browse ourhawk art prints.
Keep exploring
More places to see hawk
More wildlife in Alaska