The Short Tailed Hawk:A Florida Keys Migrant

According to audubon.org:

This rather small tropical hawk enters our area only in Florida. Even though it is uncommon, with widely scattered pairs nesting along the edges of woods in the central part of the state. It seldom perches in the open; when hunting, it regularly soars very high, where it may go unnoticed by the observer on the ground. Unlike most of the Buteo hawks, the Short-tail feeds mostly on small birds, dropping from the sky to take them by surprise.

Conservation status: Very uncommon in Florida (perhaps fewer than 500), but numbers probably stable. May be increasing in Mexico, and now showing up more often in the southwestern U.S

Florida Keys Migration:

Though it is said this hawk is a rare find, I see these hawks every fall around the end of October in particular I see many of these and other hawks ever year around October 30-31. Even though I see most of them end of October, this year has been quite a surprise with many Short tailed Hawks still seen migrating with Turkey Vulture Kettles, on November 8-11th through Key Largo and Key West. Some of these birds will stay for the winter and can be seen throughout the keys until spring. These hawks can be dark or light morph and can be mistakenly ID'd for other types of hawks. See photo above to help with ID.