9 Types of Hawks in West Virginia
West Virginia hosts several hawk species year-round, including red-tailed, red-shouldered, Cooper's, and sharp-shinned hawks. Fall migration brings additional species and higher activity across the state. The best place to begin is the eastern panhandle ridges during fall migration from September to November, when thermals and ridge lift create kettles of migrating birds. Even in winter, backyard feeders in residential areas can attract sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks hunting for songbirds, offering close observation chances without leaving home.
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
9 types of hawks recorded in West Virginia
9 hawk species have a verified observation record in West Virginia 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 3 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.
West Virginia hosts several hawk species year-round, including red-tailed, red-shouldered, Cooper's, and sharp-shinned hawks. Fall migration brings additional species and higher activity across the state. The best place to begin is the eastern panhandle ridges during fall migration from September to November, when thermals and ridge lift create kettles of migrating birds. Even in winter, backyard feeders in residential areas can attract sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks hunting for songbirds, offering close observation chances without leaving home.
1. What species of hawks are commonly found in West Virginia?
The most frequently spotted hawks are the red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, Cooper's hawk, and sharp-shinned hawk. Red-tails are widespread along highways and open fields, often perching on utility poles or soaring overhead. Red-shouldered hawks prefer moist forests near streams and beaver ponds, their rufous shoulders standing out in dappled light. Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks are accipiters that hunt with precision through deciduous and mixed forests, pursuing songbirds around feeders and brush edges. In West Virginia, hawk sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to the most useful ID markers and likely lookalikes. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto 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.
2. How can you tell a red-tailed hawk from a red-shouldered hawk?
The red-tailed hawk has a brownish belly band and a solid red tail in adults, with pale underwings that show dark patagial marks. The red-shouldered hawk shows a rufous shoulder patch and bold black-and-white checkerboard wing patterns, with a heavily barred tail of red and black. In flight, red-tailed soars with flat wings and a steady glide, while red-shouldered hawks often glide with a slight dihedral and more frequent wing flaps. At rest, red-shouldered hawks are smaller and sleeker, while red-tails have a more robust, barrel-chested appearance. Most misses happen when people arrive at the wrong hour or expect nonstop activity. Build around where in the state people usually notice them first, keep one backup area in mind, and use theanimal facts pageplustour planning ideasto compare what a realistic outing looks like in West Virginia. If movement slows, stay longer at one promising spot, listen for calls (red-shouldered hawks are vocal with a clear "kee-yew" call) or watch for edge movement, and reset around weather, light, water, or feeding changes instead of jumping to a totally new area too early.
3. When is the best time of year to see hawks in West Virginia?
Fall migration from September to November offers the highest numbers, especially at hawk watches like Hanging Rock and Pinnacle Rock in the Monongahela National Forest area. Peak passage typically occurs in mid-September when broad-winged hawks move through in large kettles. Spring migration from March to May is also good, though numbers are typically lower than fall. Resident red-tails and red-shouldered hawks are visible year-round, with nesting activity and territorial displays in April and May. Winter, despite fewer migrants, can be productive along streams and near open fields where red-tails hunt. See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
4. Where in the state do most people first notice hawks?
Open farmland in the Shenandoah Valley, the New River Gorge area, and the ridges of the Allegheny Front are prime spots. Many first sightings occur along highways where red-tailed hawks perch on utility poles and roadside dead trees. Backyard bird feeders in residential areas attract sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks during winter months. State forests like the Monongahela offer ridge-top vantage points during migration. For a dedicated outing, visitHanging Rock Raptor Observatoryduring fall.
5. What field marks separate young hawks from adults?
Juvenile red-tailed hawks have a brown tail with narrow dark bars instead of the adult's solid red tail, and brown underwings without the distinctive patagial marks seen in adults. Young Cooper's hawks have brown upperparts and a yellow eye that turns red as they age by their second or third year. Eye color change is a key clue for accipiters. Sharp-shinned hawk juveniles show rufous barring on the breast and throat, while adults appear gray above and rufous-barred below. Red-shouldered hawk youngsters lack the bold rufous shoulder patches of adults, appearing more uniformly brown with indistinct markings.
6. How do hawk migration patterns affect sightings in West Virginia?
West Virginia sits on the Allegheny Front migration route, one of the major hawk flyways in eastern North America. Broad-winged hawks pass through in large kettles during mid-September, creating spectacular viewing opportunities on ridge tops with strong thermals. Local breeders like red-shouldered hawks and red-tailed hawks are more sedentary and remain year-round. Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks increase during fall and early winter as northern populations move south. Understanding these patterns helps predict where and when you're most likely to spot different species. Checkour hawk identification hubfor seasonal timing tips.
7. What wing patterns tell you which hawk species you're looking at?
Wing patterns offer critical identification clues, especially in flight. Red-tailed hawks have pale underwings with dark patagial marks and a contrasting tail, visible from far away. Red-shouldered hawks show bold black-and-white checkering across their entire wing, like a checkerboard. Cooper's hawks have a relatively long tail with bold dark bars and rounded wing tips built for forest maneuvering. Sharp-shinned hawks have short, blunt wings (compared to Cooper's) with a squared-off tail. Broad-winged hawks, which pass through during migration, show pale underwings with dark wrist patches and a prominent dark tail band. Learning these patterns allows you to identify distant hawks before binoculars even come up.
8. How do you distinguish hawks from other large birds like eagles or vultures?
Red-tailed hawks are often confused with bald eagles, but bald eagles are much larger (wingspan to 7.5 feet versus 4-5 feet for red-tails) and adults have white heads and tails. Turkey vultures, which soar overhead in summer, lack the hawk's direct hunting stoop and hold their wings in a shallow V-shape instead of flat. Golden eagles are darker than bald eagles and rare in West Virginia, showing no white on the body. Osprey, another raptor, hunt only fish and have a distinctive white belly and dark eye-line. Zone in on size, wingbeat, soaring posture, and hunting behavior to narrow possibilities quickly.
9. Want to remember your hawk sightings? Gear that helps
Peregrine Falcon Retro Graphic Tee
A comfortable tee for casual birding days. The retro falcon design sparks conversation.Check Price and Availability
5X Hawk Sticker Set (5 pieces): Bird of Prey Car Stickers, Forest, Nature, Falconer, Bird
Add these to your notebook or water bottle to mark your favorite hawk spots.Check Price and Availability
Hawk Tarot Card T-Shirt
A unique design for those who appreciate the symbolic side of raptors.Check Price and Availability
For more, browsebird wall artto bring the mountain view home.
10. Are there any rare hawk species to look for in West Virginia?
Northern goshawks are uncommon but possible in high-elevation forests like the Monongahela National Forest during winter, though sightings remain rare. Swainson's hawks and ferruginous hawks are accidental visitors, appearing every few years during migration or winter. The Mississippi kite occasionally appears in southern counties during late summer and fall, moving north in population shifts. Rough-legged hawks, arctic migrants, sometimes winter in West Virginia's open farmland. Keep detailed records and report unusual sightings to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources or eBird to contribute to our understanding of hawk movements.
11. What equipment do hawk watchers actually use in West Virginia conditions?
Binoculars rated 8x42 cut through West Virginia's frequent haze and morning fog better than higher magnifications. A field guide (Sibley, Peterson, or Merlin Bird ID app on your phone) ensures consistent ID marks. Water is essential because fall ridge-watching at Hanging Rock or Pinnacle Rock means full sun exposure. A folding chair, hat, and sunscreen transform a day from exhausting to enjoyable. Notebook for field notes and sketches helps lock in details. Download Merlin Bird ID before you go for hawk calls and songs, especially for red-shouldered hawks and accipiters in dense woods.
12. Which hawk species are year-round residents in West Virginia?
Red-tailed hawks remain in West Virginia throughout the year, with local birds supplemented by northern migrants in fall and winter. Red-shouldered hawks are also year-round residents, though numbers increase slightly during migration. Their preference for moist deciduous forests near water means they're most reliably found in river corridors and stream valleys even in deep winter. Identifying the reliable residents versus seasonal visitors helps you plan realistic outings and understand what to expect by month.
Gear and field guides
Frequently asked questions
1. What species of hawks are commonly found in West Virginia?+
The most frequently spotted hawks are the red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, Cooper's hawk, and sharp-shinned hawk. Red-tails are widespread along highways and open fields, often perching on utility poles or soaring overhead. Red-shouldered hawks prefer moist forests near streams and beaver ponds, their rufous shoulders standing out in dappled light. Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks are accipiters that hunt with precision through deciduous and mixed forests, pursuing songbirds around feeders and brush edges. In West Virginia, hawk sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to the most useful ID markers and likely lookalikes. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto 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.
2. How can you tell a red-tailed hawk from a red-shouldered hawk?+
The red-tailed hawk has a brownish belly band and a solid red tail in adults, with pale underwings that show dark patagial marks. The red-shouldered hawk shows a rufous shoulder patch and bold black-and-white checkerboard wing patterns, with a heavily barred tail of red and black. In flight, red-tailed soars with flat wings and a steady glide, while red-shouldered hawks often glide with a slight dihedral and more frequent wing flaps. At rest, red-shouldered hawks are smaller and sleeker, while red-tails have a more robust, barrel-chested appearance. Most misses happen when people arrive at the wrong hour or expect nonstop activity. Build around where in the state people usually notice them first, keep one backup area in mind, and use theanimal facts pageplustour planning ideasto compare what a realistic outing looks like in West Virginia. If movement slows, stay longer at one promising spot, listen for calls (red-shouldered hawks are vocal with a clear "kee-yew" call) or watch for edge movement, and reset around weather, light, water, or feeding changes instead of jumping to a totally new area too early.
3. When is the best time of year to see hawks in West Virginia?+
Fall migration from September to November offers the highest numbers, especially at hawk watches like Hanging Rock and Pinnacle Rock in the Monongahela National Forest area. Peak passage typically occurs in mid-September when broad-winged hawks move through in large kettles. Spring migration from March to May is also good, though numbers are typically lower than fall. Resident red-tails and red-shouldered hawks are visible year-round, with nesting activity and territorial displays in April and May. Winter, despite fewer migrants, can be productive along streams and near open fields where red-tails hunt. See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
4. Where in the state do most people first notice hawks?+
Open farmland in the Shenandoah Valley, the New River Gorge area, and the ridges of the Allegheny Front are prime spots. Many first sightings occur along highways where red-tailed hawks perch on utility poles and roadside dead trees. Backyard bird feeders in residential areas attract sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks during winter months. State forests like the Monongahela offer ridge-top vantage points during migration. For a dedicated outing, visitHanging Rock Raptor Observatoryduring fall.
5. What field marks separate young hawks from adults?+
Juvenile red-tailed hawks have a brown tail with narrow dark bars instead of the adult's solid red tail, and brown underwings without the distinctive patagial marks seen in adults. Young Cooper's hawks have brown upperparts and a yellow eye that turns red as they age by their second or third year. Eye color change is a key clue for accipiters. Sharp-shinned hawk juveniles show rufous barring on the breast and throat, while adults appear gray above and rufous-barred below. Red-shouldered hawk youngsters lack the bold rufous shoulder patches of adults, appearing more uniformly brown with indistinct markings.
6. How do hawk migration patterns affect sightings in West Virginia?+
West Virginia sits on the Allegheny Front migration route, one of the major hawk flyways in eastern North America. Broad-winged hawks pass through in large kettles during mid-September, creating spectacular viewing opportunities on ridge tops with strong thermals. Local breeders like red-shouldered hawks and red-tailed hawks are more sedentary and remain year-round. Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks increase during fall and early winter as northern populations move south. Understanding these patterns helps predict where and when you're most likely to spot different species. Checkour hawk identification hubfor seasonal timing tips.
7. What wing patterns tell you which hawk species you're looking at?+
Wing patterns offer critical identification clues, especially in flight. Red-tailed hawks have pale underwings with dark patagial marks and a contrasting tail, visible from far away. Red-shouldered hawks show bold black-and-white checkering across their entire wing, like a checkerboard. Cooper's hawks have a relatively long tail with bold dark bars and rounded wing tips built for forest maneuvering. Sharp-shinned hawks have short, blunt wings (compared to Cooper's) with a squared-off tail. Broad-winged hawks, which pass through during migration, show pale underwings with dark wrist patches and a prominent dark tail band. Learning these patterns allows you to identify distant hawks before binoculars even come up.
8. How do you distinguish hawks from other large birds like eagles or vultures?+
Red-tailed hawks are often confused with bald eagles, but bald eagles are much larger (wingspan to 7.5 feet versus 4-5 feet for red-tails) and adults have white heads and tails. Turkey vultures, which soar overhead in summer, lack the hawk's direct hunting stoop and hold their wings in a shallow V-shape instead of flat. Golden eagles are darker than bald eagles and rare in West Virginia, showing no white on the body. Osprey, another raptor, hunt only fish and have a distinctive white belly and dark eye-line. Zone in on size, wingbeat, soaring posture, and hunting behavior to narrow possibilities quickly.
10. Are there any rare hawk species to look for in West Virginia?+
Northern goshawks are uncommon but possible in high-elevation forests like the Monongahela National Forest during winter, though sightings remain rare. Swainson's hawks and ferruginous hawks are accidental visitors, appearing every few years during migration or winter. The Mississippi kite occasionally appears in southern counties during late summer and fall, moving north in population shifts. Rough-legged hawks, arctic migrants, sometimes winter in West Virginia's open farmland. Keep detailed records and report unusual sightings to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources or eBird to contribute to our understanding of hawk movements.
11. What equipment do hawk watchers actually use in West Virginia conditions?+
Binoculars rated 8x42 cut through West Virginia's frequent haze and morning fog better than higher magnifications. A field guide (Sibley, Peterson, or Merlin Bird ID app on your phone) ensures consistent ID marks. Water is essential because fall ridge-watching at Hanging Rock or Pinnacle Rock means full sun exposure. A folding chair, hat, and sunscreen transform a day from exhausting to enjoyable. Notebook for field notes and sketches helps lock in details. Download Merlin Bird ID before you go for hawk calls and songs, especially for red-shouldered hawks and accipiters in dense woods.
12. Which hawk species are year-round residents in West Virginia?+
Red-tailed hawks remain in West Virginia throughout the year, with local birds supplemented by northern migrants in fall and winter. Red-shouldered hawks are also year-round residents, though numbers increase slightly during migration. Their preference for moist deciduous forests near water means they're most reliably found in river corridors and stream valleys even in deep winter. Identifying the reliable residents versus seasonal visitors helps you plan realistic outings and understand what to expect by month.
Keep exploring
More places to see hawk
More wildlife in West Virginia