South · Atlantic Flyway

Are There Red-tailed Hawks in Florida?

Yes, but uncommon — Red-tailed Hawks occur in Florida year-round in small numbers. Buteo jamaicensis · Accipitridae

UncommonAbundance
Year-round residentSeasonal status
12Active months
70,194Observations

Is the Red-tailed Hawk Found in Florida?

Red-tailed Hawks do occur in Florida, but they are considered uncommon. Encountering one requires patience and the right habitat.

Where to see them instead: the nearest states where Red-tailed Hawks occur regularly are Georgia (about 300 miles away), Alabama (about 380 miles away) and South Carolina (about 380 miles away).

Often mistaken for Red-tailed Hawks in Florida: Cooper's Hawk — these occur regularly in Florida, so compare them carefully before concluding you saw a Red-tailed Hawk.

Red-tailed Hawk is a North American backyard bird.

In Florida, this species is classified as uncommon. It is a year-round resident, present in all 12 months.

Monthly Activity — Red-tailed Hawk in Florida

Relative frequency of observations by month. Higher bars indicate peak periods for this species.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
RegularSeasonalRare

Identification

FamilyAccipitridae
View full Red-tailed Hawk profile →

Best Time to See Red-tailed Hawk in Florida

January
Peak
February
Peak
March
Peak
April
Peak
May
Peak
June
Peak
July
Peak
August
Peak
September
Peak
October
Peak
November
Peak
December
Peak

Other birds in Florida

Birds you might also encounter in Florida.

Red-tailed Hawk in other states

Red-tailed Hawk in Florida: Quick Facts

The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is an uncommon bird in Florida. It is classified as a year-round resident in the state, falling within the South region and the Atlantic Flyway migration corridor.

For birders in Miami and throughout Florida, knowing the seasonal patterns of Red-tailed Hawk can help plan birding trips and backyard feeding strategies.

Use the monthly activity chart above to plan your birding outings, and explore other bird species found in Florida using the related birds section.