40 Birds of Prey Found in the USA! (2024)

OWLS

#12. Great Horned Owl

• Length: 17-25 in (43 – 64 cm)
• Weight: 2.5 to 4 lbs (1134 – 1814 g)
• Wingspan: 3 – 5 feet (91-153 cm)

Great Horned Owls are common birds of prey in the United States.

In fact, these raptors can actually be found almost anywhere in North America, from the Arctic to the tropics. Its habitat is practically unlimited as long as there are trees and rocky nesting sites available. It is hard to find a bird that can adapt better than a Great Horned Owl.

Great Horned Owl Range Map

These owls are large and look fierce! To identify them, look for their long tufts of feathers that resemble ears on their head.

Also, check out their intimidating eyes. I know I would not want to have a staring contest with one!

Both sexes hoot, but males are lower-pitched than females. Males give territorial calls that can be heard a few miles away at night. I don’t think there’s another owl species that does hooting better than a Great Horned Owl!

#13. Barred Owl

• Length: 16–25 in (40–63 cm)
• Weight: 1–2.75 lbs (500–1250 g)
• Wingspan: 38–49 in (96–125 cm)

Barred Owls are a common raptor found in the United States. The name “barred” derives from the horizontal stripes of alternating light brown and dark brown on the wings, back, and tail.

Barred Owls are the type of owl I have observed the most in the wild. They are inquisitive and will often stay and watch as you walk past them. Even if they get nervous as you approach, they typically fly off to another nearby tree to continue observing.

Barred Owl Range Map

Barred Owls rely on mice and other small rodents but eat almost anything made of meat! They will readily grab rats, rabbits, bats, squirrels, moles, minks, weasels, opossums, a variety of birds, frogs, snakes, fish, and turtles, and will even hunt around your nightly campfire to catch some sweet, juicy insects.

And speaking of classical noises, their hoots are the classic sounds featured in movies and scary Halloween tales. It is easy to recognize their call as it sounds like they are asking, “Who cooks for you.” Barred Owls will sound off during daylight hours, too, and they mate for life.

#14. Long-eared Owl

• Length: 31 and 40 cm (12 and 16 in)
• Weight: 288 g – 327 g (10.2 oz – 11.5 oz)
• Wingspan: 86 to 102 cm (34 in to 40 in)

Long-eared Owls are also known as the Northern Long-Eared Owl, Lesser Horned Owl, or Cat Owl because of their catlike facial features.

They are secretive and roost in very dense foliage. Combined with their excellent camouflage, these birds of prey are EXTREMELY hard to spot in the United States!

As you can see, these owls get their name from the long tufts of feathers on their heads. These ear tufts resemble exclamation points, so Long-eared Owls often seem like they have a surprised look on their face.

Long-eared Owl Range Map

Among owls, these guys are unique by being quite sociable. They are known to live in clusters and even share roosts!

Since Long-eared Owls can be incredibly hard to see, the best way to locate them is to listen! During the mating season, males are quite talkative. Their typical call is repeated anywhere from 10 to 200 times and sounds like a low “hoo,” evenly spaced every few seconds.

#15. Eastern Screech-Owl

• Length: 6.3– 9.8 in (16–25 cm)
• Weight: 4.2–8.6 oz. (120–244 g)
• Wingspan: 18–24 in (46–61 cm)

Screech-owls may remind you of professional wrestlers since they are short, stocky, and have no necks!

These owls can either be grey or red, with about a third of all individuals being red.  

These small raptors are found in wooded areas in the United States. They don’t seem to mind people too much as they are comfortable nesting on top of streetlamps, next to busy roadways/highways, or inside spaces in populated buildings.

Eastern Screech-owl Range Map

Eastern Screech-owls make a variety of hoots, calls, and songs, but their most popular is an even-pitched trill, often called a tremolo. The tremolo is used by pairs to keep in contact with each other and lasts between 3 to 6 seconds. I think this tremolo call sounds a lot like mating toads, and I sometimes get the two confused!

#16. Western Screech-Owl

• Length: 7.5–10 inches (19–28 cm)
• Weight: 3.5–11 oz. (100–300 grams)
• Wingspan: 22–24 inches (55–62 cm)

Once upon a time, Western Screech-owls were thought to be the same bird as the Eastern Screech-owl, but research has determined that they are two distinct species.

Western Screech-owls can be found in forests, but you’ll also find them in suburban parkland, deserts, farm fields, and any basic shrubland. They are a relatively common bird of prey in the western United States.

Western Screech-owl Range Map

The primary foods of a Western Screech-owl include rats, mice, and birds. But they are opportunistic hunters and will also eat fish, amphibians, and invertebrates, such as crayfish, insects, earthworms, and slugs.

Western Screech-owl calls are not “screechy,” as the name suggests. The most common sound is a rather quiet, pleasant trill (“hoo-hoo-hoo” or “cr-r-oo-oo-oo”), which speeds up at the end but maintains a constant pitch.

#17. Snowy Owl

• Length: 20.7–25.2 inches (52.5–64 cm)
• Weight: 3.2–4 lb. (1,465–1,800 gram)
• Wingspan: 48–60 inches (1.2–1.5 meters)

Snowy Owls get my vote for the most beautiful raptor in the United States!

Their stunning white plumage stops almost everyone in their tracks, both birders and non-birders alike! Snowy Owls are mostly white, but they do have horizontal dark lines all over their bodies except the face and breast. Interestingly, individuals seem to get whiter with age.

Snowy Owl Range Map

Snowy Owls migrate with the changing seasons. During the summer, they mate and breed in arctic tundra. But when the winter arrives, these birds come south.

You never know how far south Snowy Owls will travel. Most winters, Snowy Owls only appear as far down as the northern USA. But some years, there is an “irruption” of Snowy Owls, and many more birds than normal migrate south.

When defending their territory or searching for a mate, males make a loud “hoo, hoo.” This hoot is so loud that it can be heard up to 7 miles away on the tundra! Females rarely hoot, but other noises (for both sexes) include cackles, shrieks, hissing, and bill snapping.

#18. Great Gray Owl

• Length: 24 – 33 in (61–84 cm)
• Weight: 1.5 – 4 lb (580–1,900 g)
• Wingspan: 5 feet (1.5 m)

Great Gray Owls are the largest owl in the United States!

If you’re lucky enough to see one, they are stunning raptors. Many people think they look like they are wearing a grey suit with a bowtie around its neck!

These owls cover a lot of territory in their range, but they prefer to live in a forest near a clearing. It’s instrumental in the wintertime, as they need a lot of area for listening to rodents running beneath the snow so they can crash through and catch lunch! Because they are so big, they require a lot of food, eating up to 7 rodents daily.

Great Gray Owl Range Map

Grey Gray Owls NEVER build nests. They just use the ones that other big birds made. Talk about being efficient! However, once they claim a used nest, these owls will defend it courageously, even against black bears!

Their call is reasonably distinctive, bold, and deep, sounding like “whooooo, woo, woo, woo.“ They also have a soft double hoot used when providing food to their babies or defending a territory.

#19. American Barn Owl

Barn Owls (aka Church Owl, Ghost Owl, and Monkey-faced Owl) have a heart-shaped face that is sandy-colored with a dark brown edge. Interestingly, the shape of an owl’s face steers sound to their ears, which helps make them efficient hunters.

Their hearing is so good that they can locate small animals under dense brush or snow with ease, and they even hunt bats!

Barn Owl Range Map

Barn Owls are non-migratory and tend to inhabit abandoned barns (hence the name). Though seriously endangered in many parts of their range, farmers love them because they keep surrounding property fairly rodent-free, protecting other animals from the diseases that mice and rats carry.

They do not “hoot” in the classical fashion of other owls. Their unique screechy sound is far more reminiscent of a red-tailed hawk. When showing off for a female, males sometimes clap their wings together a couple of times while flying.

#20. Burrowing Owl

• Length: 7.5–11.0 in (19–28 cm)
• Weight: 5–8.5 oz. (147–240 g)
• Wingspan: 20–24 inch (51–61 cm)

Unlike other birds of prey that spend their time in trees, Burrowing Owls live underground!

They either excavate their homes themselves or, quite frequently, take over underground shelters from squirrels or prairie dogs. These underground dens provide a lot of space to gather food. They’ve been known to have hundreds of mice in storage in case of a food shortage!

Burrowing Owls have comparatively long legs since they spend a lot of time navigating on the ground.

Burrowing Owl Range Map

While Burrowing Owls can make a wide variety of sounds, they are not especially vocal. The most common is a two-syllable that sounds like “who-who” or “coo-coo-roo,” which is primarily made by males during mating and defending territories.

#21. Northern Saw-whet Owl

• Length: 6.5–9 inches (17–23 cm)
• Weight: 1.9–5.3 oz. (54–151 grams)
• Wingspan: 16.5–22.2 inches (42–56.3 cm)

This species is one of the smallest raptors in the United States, and they are cute as a button. Northern Saw-whet Owls are typically colored in pale browns and tans.

Their favorite foods are mice, voles, and shrews. But these owls will supplement their diet with small birds, insects, and invertebrates when necessary.

Northern Saw-whet Owl Range Map

Northern Saw-whet Owls prefer dense coniferous or mixed hardwood forests with a river nearby. Because of their need for mature trees, their numbers have been declining.

These owls get their name from the sound they make when alarmed, which resembles the whetting (sharpening) of a saw. But their most common call happens during the breeding season. It sounds like a “too-too-too” emitted at about two notes per second.

#22. Northern Pygmy-Owl

• Length: 6.5 inches (16 cm)
• Weight: 2.2-2.5 ounces (62–72 g)
• Wingspan: 15 inches (38 cm)

The Northern Pygmy-Owl is a small, diurnal (daytime) bird. Its chest is white with vertical black stripes, while the remainder is medium to dark brown with spots. Look for two false eyes on the back of the head to dissuade attacks from behind.

These birds of prey generally prefer open coniferous forests or mixed forests in the United States at higher altitudes, primarily pine with a few deciduous trees.

Northern Pygmy-Owl Range Map

The bird’s call is rather plain. It sounds a lot like a one-note tin whistle (“too-too-too”)!

But don’t let the unimpressive hoots fool you because the Northern Pygmy-Owl is a powerful little raptor. It will take on birds that are more than twice its size. Believe it or not, it has even been known to feast on chickens!

#23. Flammulated Owl

• Length: 6 inches (15 cm)
• Weight: 1.8–2.3 oz. (50–65 grams)
• Wingspan: 14 inches (36 cm)

A bird is called “flammulated” when it has flame-shaped markings. Looking closely at the Flammulated Owl, you can see where it gets its name. The feathering looks like an ash-covered log in a campfire where flecks of ember show through.

It’s a beautiful coloration, but it also makes this small raptor particularly hard to spot in the western United States.

Flammulated Owl Range Map

Flammulated Owls live at the top of the forest, specifically in coniferous forests. They will also nest in deciduous forests as long as there are some conifers as part of the mix.

Because of their small size, Flammulated Owls hunt almost exclusively for insects (butterflies, moths, crickets, and beetles) and invertebrates. But occasionally, small rodents are taken and eaten.

Flammulated Owls have a very large windpipe. This adaptation allows them to make a deep base hoot that sounds like a much larger bird. People seldom see these owls, but you can hear their strangely deep call from among the treetops.

#24. Spotted Owl

• Length: 17 inches (43 cm)
• Weight: 1.3 lbs (600 grams)
• Wingspan: 39–49 inches (1–1.25 meters)

Unfortunately, Spotted Owl populations continue to decline due to habitat loss and competition with Barred Owls. These threatened birds of prey only live in mature forests in the western United States.

So when the large trees that these owls prefer are cut down, the habitat can’t be replaced for potentially hundreds of years.

Spotted Owl Range Map

Like many other owls, this species doesn’t build its nests. Instead, Spotted Owls take over nests that other birds made in years past, or they use a broken-off treetop or hollow tree cavity.

The most common sound that a Spotted Owl makes is a series of four-note soft hoots. This call is given by both sexes and used to defend and mark their territory, although it can also be heard when males deliver food to females.

#25. Boreal Owl

• Length: 9–10.5 inches (22–27 cm) long
• Weight: 3.2–7 oz. (90-200 g)
• Wingspan: 20–24 inches (50–62 cm)

The Boreal Owl is an incredibly small raptor found in the United States.

They can be tricky to identify because they have a variety of colors (from reddish-brown to gray) and patterns. They can possess either dots or streaks and sometimes both on the top or bottom of the body.

Boreal Owl Range Map

Boreal Owls live in the boreal forests and can be seen in stands of aspen, poplar, spruce, fir, and birch trees. Because of their remote locations, these owls are relatively uncommon and hard to study and see, and little is known about their population trends.

Since Boreal Owls are small, voles, bats, frogs, beetles, birds, and baby squirrels are their primary foods.

Their call is a small series of whistled toots that gets progressively louder. Males typically only hoot during the breeding season to attract a female.

#26. Northern Hawk Owl

• Length: 14.2–17.75 inches (36–45 cm)
• Weight: 11–12 oz (300–340 g)
• Wingspan: 31–35 inches (77–89 cm)

As the name suggests, Northern Hawk Owls tend to act more like hawks than owls! These owls sit solitary in tall trees and hunt during the day, which are rare traits in owls.

Northern Hawk Owl Range Map

These birds of prey are found in the boreal forests of North America.

Northern Hawk Owls commonly feed on voles since they can be eaten whole and are generally plentiful. They also will eat baby hares, red squirrels, mice, rats, and lemmings.

Males make a rolling, low “hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo” sound repeated 10 to 200 times. Females have similar calls, but it’s shorter and hoarser.

#27. Short-eared Owl

• Length: 13–17 inches (34–43 cm)
• Weight: 7.3–16.8 oz (206–475 grams)
• Wingspan: 33.5-40.5 inches (85–103 cm)

This mid-sized tawny-brown mottled owl has false ears that are not always visible. Short-eared Owls typically only erect them when they want to look intimidating.

Your best chance to spot these birds of prey in the United States is at dusk or dawn in open fields, grasslands, meadows, or airports.

Short-eared Owl Range Map

These owls build their nests on the ground in open areas such as meadows, tundra, savanna, or prairies.

If obliged to flee its nest to draw off a predator, the parent will poop on the eggs so the smell will keep predators away. Like a Kildeer, Short-eared Owls also lure predators away from their nest by hopping away and pretending to be injured.

FALCONS, EAGLES, & VULTURES

#28. Peregrine Falcon

• Length: 13-23 in / 34-58 cm
• Weight: 12-53 oz. / 330-1500 g
• Wingspan: 29-47 in / 74-120 cm

These large birds of prey are commonly found in North America in urban areas. Because of their fondness for nesting on the sides of tall buildings, these falcons are common in cities where they often become local celebrities!

Peregrine Falcon Range Map

Peregrine Falcons have the honor of being the FASTEST animal on the planet!

Don’t be fooled by stories that the cheetah is the fastest creature. Oh sure, they can crank it up to 75 mph (120 kph), and that is amazing for being on the ground.

But when a Peregrine Falcon dives, it can reach speeds of up to 200 mph (320 kph)! And it starts its journey from as high as 3,000 feet (915 m), so it cruises at these high speeds for a considerable distance.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW TO SEE THE INCREDIBLE DIVING ABILITIES OF THE PEREGRINE FALCON.

#29. American Kestrel

• Length: 9-12 inches / 22-31 cm
• Weight: 2.8-5.8 oz. / 80-165 g
• Wingspan: 20-24 inches / 51-61 cm

The American Kestrel is the smallest raptor in the United States and is roughly the size of an American Robin. Don’t let the tiny stature fool you, though, because these birds of prey are accomplished hunters.

In fact, you may have heard of a kestrel’s alternate name, which is the Sparrow Hawk. This name was given because they will take sparrows and other birds of that size right out of the air!

American Kestrel Range Map

One of their favorite strategies to catch prey is to hover in the breeze from a relatively low height, looking for insects, invertebrates, small rodents, and birds. But life can be tough when you’re the smallest falcon since they are sometimes eaten as prey by larger raptors, as well as rat snakes and corn snakes!

Kestrels have a distinct call that sounds like it’s saying “klee-klee-klee” or “killy, killy, killy,” which is usually repeated rapidly. Press the PLAY button below to hear an example!

#30. Prairie Falcon

• Length: 14.5-18.5 in / 37-47 cm
• Weight: 15-39 oz. / 425-1106 g
• Wingspan: 35.5-44.5 in / 90-113 cm

You’ll find this raptor in the openness of the western United States.

Specifically, look for Prairie Falcons in grasslands, shrubby deserts, farm fields, and pastures. If there are too many trees around, then you probably won’t find this beautiful bird of prey!

The Prairie Falcon and Peregrine Falcon look similar to each other. In fact, these two species diverged from a common ancestor about 4 million years ago. Although approximately the same size, the Prairie Falcon is a considerably lighter bird and requires less food as a result.

Prairie Falcon Range Map

Prairie Falcons like to play! They have been observed picking up manure, carrying it up high, and then dropping it, only to catch the cow waste before it hits the ground. It’s thought that this activity may help sharpen their hunting skills.

Prairie Falcons are generally silent, but they will sound an alarm call (kik-kik-kik-kik) when defending their nest or territory.

#31. Bald Eagle

• Length: 28-40 in / 70-102 cm
• Weight: 6.5-15 lbs / 3-7 kg
• Wingspan: 71-91 in / 1.8-2.3 m

The Bald Eagle has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782 and is one of the most recognizable birds in the world!

These large raptors are now quite prevalent in the United States, but that wasn’t always the case.

Bald Eagles almost went extinct in the mid-20th century due to DDT poisoning. After years of dedicated conservation work, they have recovered and are a true success story. They are most commonly seen around bodies of water.

Bald Eagle Range Map

The reason that Bald Eagles are found around water is that they mostly eat fish! Look for them around marshes, lakes, coasts, and rivers. The BEST areas are forests near large bodies of water that provide good fishing AND tall trees for nesting sites.

Below, you can hear what a Bald Eagle sounds like. If you imagine an intimidating eagle call, then you would be wrong. I think they sound more like a gull, with trills and little whistles.

Press PLAY above to hear a Bald Eagle!

#32. Merlin

Length: 9-13 inches / 23-33 cm

Weight: 4.4-10.6 oz. / 125-300 g

Wingspan: 21-23 inches / 53-58 cm

Merlins are small, fierce raptors found in the United States.

With that being said, they are not that common to observe and are unpredictable in regard to their range. They are a bit larger than the American Kestrel, with a stockier build, sharply pointed wings, and medium-length tails. You can always identify a Merlin by its rapid wingbeats and because it is so small.

But despite its diminutive stature, this falcon is an incredibly fierce bird and uses surprise attacks to bring down its prey. It is so bold that it has been seen attacking trains and cars that enter its territory. 

The Merlin is one bird you don’t want to annoy or make nervous!

Merlin Range Map

While generally silent, it’s possible to hear a loud, high cackle that sounds like “klee-klee-klee.” Typically, these calls are made during courtship or when showing aggression. Press the PLAY button above to hear an example.

#33. Golden Eagle

• Length: 26-40 in / 66-100 cm
• Weight: 6.5-16 lbs / 3-7 kg
• Wingspan: 71-91 in / 1.8-2.3 m

Golden Eagles are incredibly fast and agile, which makes them expert hunters. Where Bald Eagles mostly eat fish, these eagles almost always eat mammals. Their favorite prey include rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, marmots, and prairie dogs.

But these raptors have been known to hunt and kill animals as large as small deer, seals, mountain goats, coyotes, and badgers!

Golden Eagles are dark brown with gold feathers on the backs of their necks, which is how they got their name. Juvenile birds have white patches on their wings and tails. Immature Bald Eagles and adult Golden Eagles look similar and can be easily confused.

The distinguishing feature between these two birds is that the Bald Eagle doesn’t mind showing a little leg, whereas the Golden Eagle has feathers down to the top of its feet.

These large birds of prey prefer vast open areas in the United States, such as landscapes that include cliffs, mountains, or hills. You can also spot these birds in grasslands, farmlands, shrublands, arctic tundra, and coniferous woodlands.

Golden Eagle Range Map

These eagles are not extremely noisy, and their calls sound like whistles that are weak and high. Just like Bald Eagles, for such a powerful raptor, you would think Golden Eagles would have a much more intimidating sound.

#34. Turkey Vulture

• Length: 25-32 in / 64-81 cm
• Weight: 2-5 lbs / 0.8-2.4 kg
• Wingspan: 63-72 in / 160-183 cm

The Turkey Vulture is a large bird of prey incredibly common in the United States.

In fact, it is the most abundant vulture in the entire country. They are relatively easy to identify, as they are all black, with a bald red head and a pinkish bill. The name derives from their loose resemblance to a Wild Turkey.

Turkey Vultures use their highly developed sense of smell to locate carrion. Their sense of smell is so sensitive that they can detect dead meat from 8 miles (13 km) away. These birds prefer to eat fresh food, and they try to get to animals as quickly as possible after their death.

Turkey Vulture Range Map

These birds are dark, and they absorb heat easily. To cool themselves off, they defecate on their legs to cool the blood and help them moderate their body temperature. Let’s collectively say “Ewww” and move on!

When these raptors are frightened, they can be so full of meat that they cannot rapidly fly away. In this case, you may see them projectile vomit what they’ve eaten to lose weight and escape. If they target the predator’s face, the material can be blinding.

#35. Black Vulture

• Length: 22 – 29 in / 56 – 74 cm
• Weight: 3.5 – 6.5 lbs / 1.6-3 kg
• Wingspan: 51 – 66 in / 1.3 – 1.7 m

Black Vultures primarily eat carrion, but unlike most other vultures, they are known to kill animals to feed on fresh meat. It is not uncommon for them to prey on living skunks, opossums, and livestock, such as baby pigs, calves, and lambs.

Black Vultures are monogamous and will stay with their mate for many years. The loyal pair are excellent parents and will defend their nest, eggs, and young vigorously. Interestingly, these vultures build their nests on the ground in stumps, caves, thickets, brush piles, or hollow trees. No nesting material is used either!

Black Vulture Range Map

Look for Black Vultures in the United States in both forested and open areas. They prefer to roost and nest in dense forests but forage for food along roads, fields, and other open spaces. Black Vultures are commonly seen hanging around Turkey Vultures, and it’s not because they are best friends.

Between the two species, Turkey Vultures have a MUCH better sense of smell. Black Vultures use this fact to their advantage and follow Turkey Vultures to a carcass. Often, the more aggressive Black Vultures will chase away their vulture cousins to have the food all to themselves. I wonder if Turkey Vultures ever feel used? 🙂

#36. Gyrfalcon

• Length: 19 – 26 in / 48 – 65 cm
• Weight: 1.75 – 5 lbs. / 794 – 2268 g
• Wingspan: 43 – 63 in / 110 -160 cm