Are There Hawks in Portland?
Yes, hawks are common throughout the Portland metro area. Red-tailed hawks hunt from power lines and tall trees across neighborhoods and parks. Cooper's hawks and sharp-shinned hawks are also present. The city's many parks and the nearby Columbia River Gorge provide ideal habitat for these raptors year-round.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 23, 2026.
Red-tailed Hawk · Millie Basden CC BY
Western Red-tailed Hawk · Matthew Cozart CC BY-ND
Bald Eagle · jayjt CC BY
- 8
- species recorded
- 1,134,482
- GBIF records
- 6
- birding hotspots
- December, January, April
- peak months
Yes, hawks are in Oregon. Next you'll want:
What hawk sound like
Verified field recordings from Xeno-canto. Press play to hear the calls birders listen for in the field.
Swallow-tailed Kite · flight call
0:05River Lakes Conservation Area near Viera, Brevard Co, Florida · © Paul Marvin CC BY-NC-SA · XC169364
Northern Harrier · call
0:05Whitewater Draw WA, near McNeal, Cochise Co, Arizona · © Paul Marvin CC BY-NC-SA · XC164241
Cooper's Hawk · alarm call
0:06Cape Coral Public Library · © Dany Sloan CC BY-NC-SA · XC859371
Verified species, source iNaturalist
13 types of hawks recorded in Oregon
13 hawk species have a verified observation record in Oregon 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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Also recorded in Oregon
| # | Species | Scientific name | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus | Buteo platypterus | 11 |
Counts from verified iNaturalist observations. Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
27,612 verified observations on iNaturalist of hawk have been recorded in Oregon, most often in December, January, April.
When hawk are recorded in Oregon
Yes, hawks are common throughout the Portland metro area. Red-tailed hawks hunt from power lines and tall trees across neighborhoods and parks. Cooper's hawks and sharp-shinned hawks are also present. The city's many parks and the nearby Columbia River Gorge provide ideal habitat for these raptors year-round.
Where Hawks Are Found in and Around Portland
Hawks live throughout Portland and its surrounding region. You can spot red-tailed hawks perched on tall trees in the Pearl District, Laurelhurst, and East Side neighborhoods. They nest in cottonwoods along the Willamette River and hunt over the neighborhoods of Irvington and Hawthorne. Forest Park, Portland's massive 5,200-acre urban forest, is home to multiple hawk families. Powell Butte Nature Park in Southeast Portland offers excellent viewing opportunities from its open meadows. The Hoyt Arboretum's varied habitat attracts red-tailed and sharp-shinned hawks searching for prey. Further out, the Columbia River Gorge provides additional habitat where hawks hunt in the wider region. Visit ourstatewide hawk guidefor more information about Oregon's hawk species, or explore other wildlife atOregon's wildlife huband thenational wildlife guide.
Seasons and Timing for Portland Hawks
Hawks are present in Portland year-round, making them viewable in every season. Winter is when red-tailed hawks are easiest to spot because trees lose their leaves, making perched birds more visible against bare branches. Spring and fall bring migration surges. During these times, you may see more hawks passing through Portland as they travel to and from northern breeding grounds. Cooper's hawks and sharp-shinned hawks are migratory, with higher numbers arriving in fall. Some red-tailed hawks are permanent residents, while others arrive for winter. If you visit Forest Park or Powell Butte in late afternoon, you'll often find hawks hunting before sunset. Check ourOregon hawk resourcesto learn the best viewing times each season.
How to Identify Hawks in Portland
Red-tailed hawks are Portland's most common raptor. They are large birds with a body length of two feet and brown plumage with a distinctive rusty-red tail. Females are bigger than males. Younger birds have dark brown tails and may look different at first. Cooper's hawks are medium-sized with blue-gray backs, reddish-barred undersides, and long tails with dark bands. Sharp-shinned hawks are smaller, similar to Cooper's hawks but more compact. All hawks have powerful hooked beaks and strong legs with talons. Listen for their distinctive calls: red-tailed hawks make a raspy scream, while Cooper's hawks produce sharp, rapid chirps. Field marks like the tail color, body size, and wing pattern help distinguish species. For detailed identification, visitOregon's hawk guide.
Where Sightings Concentrate Near Portland
Red-tailed hawks hunt most often in open areas and from perches along roadsides. In Portland, the best viewing spots include Forest Park's open meadows and grasslands where hawks hunt rodents. Powell Butte's hilltop offers unobstructed views of hunting birds. Along the Willamette River between the Hawthorne Bridge and Morrison Bridge, hawks patrol the water for waterfowl and fish. Curtis Park and the open fields near Mt. Tabor provide good vantage points. Cooper's hawks hunt in denser vegetation and oak woodlands, so they concentrate around Laurelhurst Park and residential neighborhoods with mature trees. Sharp-shinned hawks frequent Hoyt Arboretum. The industrial area east of the river has tall trees and sparse human activity, attracting hawks. Early morning is the best time to search, when hawks are most active hunting.
Typical Hawk Behavior and Diet in Portland
Red-tailed hawks are skilled hunters that eat mostly small mammals. In Portland, they hunt ground squirrels, voles, mice, and rabbits. They often hunt by soaring high on thermal currents, scanning the ground below, or perching and watching from power lines. When they spot prey, they dive quickly with talons extended. Cooper's hawks and sharp-shinned hawks hunt smaller prey, including songbirds and other small birds. They are fast, agile fliers that chase prey through trees and neighborhoods. Hawks are solitary hunters but sometimes gather where food is abundant. During nesting season, pairs defend territories and work together to raise young. Hawks don't migrate far in search of prey in Portland because the region offers food year-round. Rodent and bird populations in parks and residential areas support healthy hawk populations. Learn more onOregon's wildlife hub.
Coexistence and Safety with Hawks in Portland
Hawks are not a threat to humans. They are wild animals protected by federal law and should not be harmed or bothered. In Portland, hawks occasionally hunt in neighborhoods, particularly at bird feeders where songbirds gather. If you have a backyard bird feeder, expect that hawks may visit. This is natural predation, not a problem to solve. Hawks help control rodent populations and are beneficial. If you see a hawk near your home, give it space and enjoy the moment. Do not attempt to capture, trap, or move a hawk. If you find an injured or orphaned hawk in Portland, contact the Audubon Society of Portland or local wildlife rehabilitators for assistance. Most people who live with hawks find them fascinating and exciting to watch. The best approach is to observe from a distance and let hawks hunt naturally. Hawks are an important part of Portland's ecosystem and food chain.
Hawks Confused with Other Species Around Portland
Several birds in Portland are sometimes mistaken for hawks. The Osprey is larger than most hawks and hunts fish from the water. Ospreys have white undersides and distinctive markings. Ravens are large black birds, but lack the hooked beak and hunting style of hawks. Crows are smaller than ravens but similar in shape. Vultures soar like hawks but are much larger and have different silhouettes and flight patterns. In the Columbia River Gorge area, golden eagles occasionally appear and are larger than any hawk. These eagles have golden plumage on the head and neck. The pileated woodpecker is sometimes mistaken for a hawk at a distance, but is much smaller and colored black and white with red on the head. Northern flickers, a type of woodpecker, have spotty patterns that can confuse new birders. Learning the distinctive field marks of each species helps distinguish them from hawks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hawks in Portland
What should I do if I see a hawk on the ground? If a hawk is perched on the ground and acting normally, leave it alone. If it appears injured or unable to fly, contact wildlife rehabilitators. Will a hawk take my pet bird or small pet? Large hawks could theoretically prey on very small birds or pets, but this is uncommon in Portland. Keep small pets indoors or supervised outdoors. Can I feed hawks? No, do not feed hawks. They hunt naturally and supplemental feeding can make them dependent on humans. Are hawks dangerous to people? Hawks are not dangerous to people. They do not attack humans and you can safely observe them from a respectful distance. Visit ourwildlife guideto learn about more Portland species.
Gear and field guides
Plan your trip
Best time to see hawk in Oregon: December, January, April
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your hawk sighting in Oregon
1,134,482 verified hawk records have been logged in Oregon, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Oregon
- Crater Lake National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Fort Vancouver National Historic Site · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Lewis and Clark National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Nez Perce National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Malheur NWR (general) · 367 species recorded
- Malheur NWR--Headquarters · 326 species recorded
- North Spit of Coos Bay · 305 species recorded
- Fern Ridge WMA (general) · 303 species recorded
- Yaquina Bay · 303 species recorded
- Fort Stevens SP · 298 species recorded
Birding hotspots via eBird (Cornell Lab).
Keep exploring
More places to see hawk
More wildlife in Oregon