Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged HawkBroad-winged HawkBroad-winged HawkBroad-winged Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Big Bend National Park
20 Verified sightings at Big Bend National Park From 2019 to 2026
18,098 Verified sightings across all 81 parks From 2019 to 2026
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Broad-winged Hawk

The broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a medium-sized hawk of the genus Buteo. During the summer, some subspecies are distributed over eastern North America, as far west as British Columbia and Texas; they then migrate south to winter in the Neotropics from Mexico south to southern Brazil. Other subspecies are all-year residents on Caribbean islands. As in most raptors, females are slightly larger than males. Broad-winged hawks' wings are relatively short and broad with a tapered, somewhat pointed appearance. The two types of coloration are a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall. Although the broad-winged hawk's overall population is increasing, populations are declining in some parts of its breeding range because of forest fragmentation.

The broad-winged hawk is a relatively small Buteo species, with a body size from 32 to 44 cm (13 to 17 in) in length and a weight 265 to 560 g (9.3 to 19.8 oz). The tail is relatively short, measuring 14.5–19.0 cm (5.7–7.5 in) in length. The tarsi measure from 5.6 to 6.6 cm (2.2 to 2.6 in). As in most raptors, females are slightly larger than males. Broad-winged hawks have relatively... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Big Bend National Park

Red-tailed Hawk
LC

Red-tailed Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo jamaicensis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Gray-lined Hawk
LC

Gray-lined Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo nitidus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Zone-tailed Hawk
LC

Zone-tailed Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo albonotatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Swainson's Hawk
LC

Swainson's Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo swainsoni

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Red-shouldered Hawk
LC

Red-shouldered Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo lineatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Ferruginous Hawk
LC

Ferruginous Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo regalis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Black-Hawk
LC

Common Black-Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteogallus anthracinus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Sharp-shinned Hawk
LC

Sharp-shinned Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Accipiter striatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Harris' Hawk
LC

Harris' Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parabuteo unicinctus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Hen Harrier
LC

Hen Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus cyaneus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Golden Eagle
LC

Golden Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila chrysaetos

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Mississippi Kite
LC

Mississippi Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ictinia mississippiensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Brownsberg Nature Park 🇸🇷 Suriname
~30%
2 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
~30%
3 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
4 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
5 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
6 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
~20%
7 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
8 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
9 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~20%
10 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
11 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
12 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
13 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
14 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
15 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
16 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
17 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
18 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
19 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
20 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
21 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
22 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
23 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
24 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
25 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
26 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
27 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
28 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
29 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
30 Canaima National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
~10%
31 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
32 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
33 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
34 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
35 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
36 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
37 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
38 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
39 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
40 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
41 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
42 Irazú Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
43 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
44 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
45 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
46 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
47 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
48 Puracé National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
49 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
50 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
51 Podocarpus National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
52 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
53 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
<5%
54 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
<5%
55 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
<5%
56 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
57 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
58 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
59 Cordillera Azul National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
60 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
<5%
61 Anavilhanas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
62 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
63 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
64 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
<5%
65 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
66 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
67 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
68 Utría National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
69 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
70 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
71 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
72 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
73 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
74 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Insufficient data
75 Chapada dos Guimarães National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
76 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
77 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
78 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
79 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
80 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
81 Iguazú National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Broad-winged Hawk in Big Bend National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Broad-winged Hawk sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Broad-winged Hawk in Big Bend National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Broad-winged Hawk in Big Bend National Park in our monthly data.

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