Tips for Raptor/Hawk Watching

Updated: Oct 21, 2019

Best times of day to find Raptors:

All day on Windy Days
9:30-11:30/2:30-4pm if it's not a windy day
Can be found soaring midday during migrations on a sunny day since they use heat thermals to soar and conserve energy.

Accipiters: long tailed, short winged silhouette. Sharp shinned hawks, coopers hawks, northern goshawks.
Buteos: Large raptors with long broad wings. Red Shouldered Hawks, Broad Winged Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, Red Tailed Hawks, Rough Legged Hawks, Ferruginous hawks.
Falcons: Small raptors, dainty, slim, lively and nimble in flight. American Kestrels, Merlins, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcon, Gyrfalcon.

According to the Florida Keys Hawk Watch Program is the first and second week of October in the keys, with October 11th and 12th being the height it. On October 10, 2015 over 1500 Peregrine Falcons were counted at curry hammock state park! I was out everyday searching for them and they surely were everywhere!! I actually got to see a peregrine falcon for the first time that week. But its not over though! Raptor migration continues into the fall and winter season. Some hawks will winter here in south Florida, and some will continue to migrate down to south america. So get out there, go for an evening or morning walk, and find some Raptors!!