Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons in Louisiana

Louisiana’s varied avian species encompasses raptors like the red-tailed hawk, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon. The hawks, eagles, and falcons living in the state contribute to its ecological equilibrium. They also offer efficient pest control and reflect the vitality of Louisiana’s diverse landscapes consisting of wetlands, forests, and urban areas.

List of Different Types of Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons in Louisiana

Eagles

There are only two types of eagles native to Louisiana.

• Bald Eagle
• Golden Eagle

The bald eagle population has drastically increased in the state, with the number of nesting pairs surpassing 350 as of 2015. This resident eagle population grows by hundreds in the winter when the migrating population joins in.  

Hawks

• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Broad-winged Hawk
• Swainson’s Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk (Accidental)
• Ferruginous Hawk (Accidental)
• American Goshawk (Accidental)
• Harris’s Hawk (Accidental)
• White-tailed Hawk (Accidental)
• Zone-tailed Hawk (Accidental)

All six species of native hawks can be found in south Louisiana. But the sharp-shinned hawk population is more in the northern and central parts of the state due to the presence of more forests and woodlands, where the birds thrive.   

Red-tailed hawks are the largest and the most common raptor in the state. The broad-winged hawk is more common in the summer, while the red-tailed hawk can be seen more in the winter.

Falcons

• Crested Caracara
• American Kestrel
• Merlin
• Peregrine Falcon
• Prairie Falcon (Accidental)

Ospreys

• Osprey

Harriers

• Northern Harrier

Terrebonne Parish is a hotspot for watching bald eagle activity in Louisiana, with 69 active nests recorded in 2007. Other nest locations are the Atchafalaya Basin or along the Mississippi River Valley.