Raptor Center of Southeast Michigan

By Dave Spratt

If you’re a rubber-necking nature geek like me, winter is a great time to spot hawks. On any given drive down a southern Michigan freeway, you can typically see at least one red-tailed hawk every several miles, perched in a tree watching the grass that lines the roadway for any subtle signs of movement – in other words, a meal.

Now that spring is coming and the leaves are about to fill in, those roadside hunters will be harder to spot. But since we’re venturing back outside a little more frequently, it’s still a good time to see raptors if you know what you’re looking for.

I have a friend – a real birder – whose rule of thumb is that 90 percent of the hawks you see sitting in the open are red-tailed hawks. And I haven’t seen evidence to the contrary. But they’re far from alone in these parts. Many juvenile hawks look remarkably alike – dappled brown and white, generally – so it’s good to know other identifying features and behaviors to know what you’re looking at.

Here’s a sampling of the raptors you’re most likely to spot in southeast Michigan:

• Red-tailed hawks. Yes, reddish-orange tail, but that’s only adults. RTHAs are big, with a tail that barely clears its wings when they’re perched. They’re fond of rabbits and rodents, and hang around field edges and roadsides to find them.
• Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinned hawks. If you keep bird feeders in your yard, you may have seen one of these avian fighter jets swoop in for a feathered meal. Adults are gray on top, orange/white breast. They’re built for speed and maneuverability: A long tail helps them change direction on a dime; short wings get them into tight spaces where tasty little birds can be had. Markings are nearly identical, but Cooper’s run bigger (crow-sized), while sharpies are close to the size of a blue jay. Confusing matters, a large female sharpie may be bigger than a small male Cooper’s. Check your field guide if you really want to know.
• A tinier but no less fierce field watcher is the American kestrel. Often seen on telephone wires or hovering above the grass, these robin-sized, colorful falcons prey on small rodents and even insects. Do yourself a favor and put some binoculars on a kestrel. They’re stunningly beautiful.
• Now and then you can see a largish hawk skimming along just a couple feet above the ground, often over a stubbly cornfield or young wheat. That’s most likely a northern harrier trying to surprise a rodent. Males are gray, females are brown, and both have a tell-tale white rump patch.
• Yes, the really big brown ones with white heads and tails are bald eagles, which have made a remarkable comeback since the days of DDT. And while they’re not all that uncommon any more, it’s still thrilling to see one. One thing to note: Juvenile bald eagles are just as big as adults, and are usually all brown with a few lighter markings. They are often mistaken for golden eagles. Trust us, they really probably aren’t golden eagles. But if you must know or want to win a bet, check the legs. If the bird is showing leg it’s a baldy. Golden eagles’ legs are fully feathered all the way down to their feet.
• A big brown and white bird with long, narrow wings hanging out near water is almost always an osprey. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch one diving straight into the water. If the osprey is lucky, it will merge with a fish in its talons. (Pro tip: If you want to see an osprey, go to a Metropark like Kensington.)
• If you see a large, very dark bird soaring (often in small groups), check the way they hold their wings. If the wings are flat and curve up at the tips, it’s probably an eagle. If they’re held in a shallow ‘V’ shape and look like their tipping back and forth in the wind, that’s a turkey vulture. As nature’s janitors, they fly around looking for dead stuff to eat. So step lively.