Birds of Prey in Michigan

Identifying raptors in Michigan is more challenging than it might seem due to their sheer numbers and types. The large birds of prey here are the red-tailed hawk, northern goshawk, golden eagle, bald eagle, and great horned owl. Careful study of their pictures can go a long way in identifying them correctly. So the next time you spot a bird of prey in this Great Lake State, you can thank us!

List of Birds of Prey in Michigan

Eagles

• Bald Eagle
• Golden Eagle

Falcons

• American Kestrel
• Crested Caracara
• Gyrfalcon
• Merlin
• Peregrine Falcon
• Prairie Falcon

Hawks

• Broad-winged Hawk
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Ferruginous Hawk
• Northern Goshawk
• Northern Harrier
• Osprey
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Short-tailed Hawk
• Swainson’s Hawk

Kites

• Mississippi Kite
• Swallow-tailed Kite

Owls

• American Barn Owl
• Barn Owl
• Barred Owl
• Boreal Owl
• Burrowing Owl
• Eastern Screech-Owl
• Great Gray Owl
• Great Horned Owl
• Long-eared Owl
• Northern Hawk Owl
• Northern Saw-whet Owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Snowy Owl

Vultures

• Black Vulture
• Turkey Vulture