Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GenusButeo (Buteos)
SpeciesButeo platypterus (Broad-winged Hawk)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Big Cypress National Preserve

5 Verified sightings at Big Cypress National Preserve From 2019 to 2026

18,098 Verified sightings across all 81 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Cypress National Preserve

Buteo lineatus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Buteo brachyurus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Buteo jamaicensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo swainsoni

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Elanoides forficatus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Circus cyaneus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Accipiter striatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Elanus leucurus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Cathartes aura

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Coragyps atratus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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

← Back to Big Cypress National Preserve

Broad-winged Hawk

About the Broad-winged Hawk

Recent sightings of Broad-winged Hawk in Big Cypress National Preserve

Closest Relatives at Big Cypress National Preserve

Red-shouldered Hawk

Short-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Swainson's Hawk

American Swallow-tailed Kite

Hen Harrier

Bald Eagle

Snail Kite

Sharp-shinned Hawk

White-tailed Kite

Turkey Vulture

Black Vulture

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found