Broad-Winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

Group Vultures, Eagles, Hawks, and Falcons
Code ABNKC19050
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae
Author (Vieillot, 1823)
Rank G5 (definitions)
USESA (PS) (definitions)
Occurrence LM (definitions)
Scale C (definitions)

County List:

Western UP all
Eastern UP all
Northern LP all
Southern LP Muskegon, Monroe, Montcalm, Oakland, Sanilac, Lapeer, Livingston, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Shiawassee, Saginaw, Ottawa, Wayne, Cass, Calhoun, Clinton, Barry, Berrien, Allegan, Kent, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Ionia, Ingham, Huron, Hillsdale

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

Nesting and Foraging Habitat Requirements may be distributed over the COMPARTMENT

Nesting Habitat:
      (Any Upland Deciduous (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Upland Mixed (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven)) 

Foraging Habitat 1st alternative:
      (Any Upland Deciduous (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Upland Mixed (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven)) 
   containing:
      Stand/Gap Openings 

Foraging Habitat 2nd alternative:
      Grass
      or Upland Brush
view decision rule term definitions

Habitat List:

Habitats Regen Sap Pole Sm Saw Lg Saw Uneven
Aspen nononoYESYES-
Paper Birch nononoYESYES-
Oak nononoYESYESYES
Assorted Hardwoods nononoYESYESYES
Northern Hardwoods nononoYESYESYES
Spruce/Fir nononononono
Hemlock nononononono
Jack Pine nononononono
Red Pine nononononono
White Pine nononononono
Conifer Plantations nonononono-
Mixed Upland Hardwoods nononoYESYESYES
Mixed Northern Hardwoods nononoYESYESYES
Mixed Upland Conifer nononoYESYESYES
Mixed Pine nononoYESYESYES
Swamp Hardwoods nononononono
Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch nononononono
Bottomland Hardwoods nononononono
Tamarack nononononono
Northern White Cedar nononononono
Black Spruce nononononono
Mixed Lowland Hardwoods nononononono
Mixed Lowland Conifer nononononono
Non-ForestedGrass, Upland Brush
Special FeaturesStand (Gap) Openings

view size class definitions

Literature:

Ebbers, B. C. 1991. Broad-winged Hawk. Pages 172-173 In: R. Brewer, G. A. McPeek, and R. J. Adams, Jr. (eds.) The atlas of breeding birds of Michigan. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing. 594 pp.

Habitat: Broad-winged Hawks nest in a wide range of broad-leafed and mixed forest types, from dry to wet, usually in close proximity to clearcuts, old fields, two-tracks, or other openings. Contiguous woodlands are preferred; small disjunct woodlots and groves, characteristic of farming country are almost never used. Forest edges around small openings are essential habitat for hunting small mammals, birds, frogs, and snakes, an activity often takes place from a low perch.


DeGraaf, R. M. and D. D. Rudis. 1986. New England wildlife: habitat, natural history, and distribution. GTR NE-108. Broomall, PA:USDA, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 491 pp.

Habitat: Breeding: Dry forests (mostly deciduous and mixed, occasionally in conifers), wooded hillsides generally away from human habitations. Prefers continuous woods, shuns open country. Seems to prefer to nest along untraveled woods roads, at least in New England.

Special Habitat Requirements: Extensive woodlands.


Kaufman, K. 1996. Lives of North American Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 675 pp.

Habitat: Woods, groves. Typically breeds in deciduous or mixed coniferous-deciduous forest, often near water and near clearings or edges. Migrants may be seen over any kind of open country but tend to stop for the night in forest or extensive groves of trees.

Diet: Includes small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds. Varied diet includes mice, voles, squirrels, other small mammals; toads, frogs, snakes, lizards, young turtles; various small birds; large insects. Sometimes eats crayfish, fish, centipedes, earthworms.

Nest: Site is usually in the lower part of a large tree (either deciduous or coniferous), typically 25-40 feet above ground. Nest is a rather small platform of sticks lined with soften materials such as bark and moss. Leafy green twigs often added during nesting cycle.