What is the differnce between a falcon and hawk?What kind of animals will they hunt for? Where do they live?

Question

My children saw a Bird today, that was brown and black and speckled white, under wings was white, and in size about a 3ft wingspan and 1 1/2 ft tall. In our backyard, it hunted and caught a bird (woodpecker)that was flying and the Bird caught it in mid-air. is that normal? we live in the suburbs and my second time seeing a bird swoop and catch its dinner, in my yard.

Answer 1

Yes, it is very normal. We have a few that "stalk" our bird feeders as if they were a take-out lunch counter. It is the way of nature.

Check this link:

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i3370id.html

for information about red-tailed hawks, which might be what you saw. They are extremely common. You might want to get in touch with your local nature groups or birding group to find out what hawks are in your area.

Falcons are generally smaller. Either will hunt wherever food is available!

This link is to Cooper's Hawk, another common one. It also has lots of other links to help find birds.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Coopers_Hawk.html

Answer 2

Hawks and Falcons are both birds of prey. Sometimes they are referred to as raptors, though that is not a scientific term. There are several species of falcons in the United States, from smallest to largest; American Kestrel, Merlin, Prairie, Peregrine, Gyrfalcon and Crested Caracara, though Caracaras are atypical in appearance and feeding style. Falcons are very streamlined with thin pointed wings. They have differing ranges, with Kestrels being the most common and widespread.

There are many species of hawk, over 20 in the United States alone. There are divided into sub-groups, with the most common groups being accipiters and buteos. Buteos have broad, long wings and soar. The most common one is the Red-tailed Hawk.

Accipters are shorter winged and are designed for flight through forests. They include Sharp-shinned, Cooper's and Goshawk. It was most like an accipiter that you are seeing, probably a Cooper's Hawk. Their main food is birds, which they catch on the wing.

Answer 3

Falcons will hunt birds (even in mid-air). Hawks feed on ground animals, usually rodents and such. You saw a falcon.