Florida houses numerous wonderful birds of prey more commonly known as raptors. These dominant and efficient big game hunters are essential for the proper maintenance of Florida’s fragile balance of animal populations. Although kestrels are agile hunting birds, the mighty eagles are also part of those Florida birds of prey which signify strength not only but also serve nature’s purpose. For your better understanding of these species and more especially about their lives in Florida, below are descriptions of 26 of these remarkable species with special attention to; diet, habitat, weight, wingspan, and many more.

1. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

American Kestrel speckles the list of Florida birds of prey since it is the smallest but colors so lively. The owl is usually observed perched on top of some fields using its highly developed sense of sight and speed to catch small mammals and insects. It is a small but aggressive bird, commonly observed sitting on electrical wires, in both the rural as well as urban zones in Florida. The most fascinating coloration species of the American Bird is the Kestrel whose beautiful colors add pride and sunlight to Florida skies.

• Weight: 80-165 grams
• Wingspan: 20 inches
• Habitat: Open fields, woodlands, urban areas
• Diet: Insects, small mammals, birds
• Speed: Up to 39 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide

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2. Golden Eagle Florida Birds of Prey (Aquila chrysaetos)

The Golden Eagle is also one of the largest and most dominant of the Florida birds of prey that works in connection with power drawn from the kill. Depending on its size, up to 7 ft wingspan, it flies ratably for plains and mountains of Florida selecting its meal that consists of mainly small mammals and birds. This eagle has golden brown feathers that shine in the sun; therefore such an eagle is very well known to the people of Florida. These traits include a massive and sharp beak, and strong feathers of developed talons, that provide it high predatory performance; besides, it is capable of hunting foxes, and sometimes, even small deers.

• Weight: 3.6-6.6 kg
• Wingspan: 6-7 feet
• Habitat: Open plains, mountainous regions
• Diet: Small mammals, birds
• Speed: Up to 200 mph (in dive)
• Found in Florida: Northern parts during migration

3. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

One of Florida’s birds of prey is the large bird with a white head and muscular body – the bald eagle. Even though it lives near water bodies such as a lake, rivers, and the coast, this bird raptor mainly feeds on fish, which it captures from the water after flying from a cliff with its grasp-cum-talons. The Bald Eagle has an average wingspan of about 7 feet and is a superior bird in the tree tops. This is also a symbol of liberty, and energy, not only for Florida but for the whole United States as well.

• Weight: 3-6.3 kg
• Wingspan: 6-7.5 feet
• Habitat: Lakes, rivers, coastal regions
• Diet: Fish, small mammals
• Speed: Up to 100 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide

4. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

The Peregrine Falcon, many people know, is the fastest creature on earth that when it flies to catch its food rarely goes below 240 miles per hour. This great speed helps in catching birds when they are still a flight; it therefore ranks among the best hunters of Florida birds of prey. ”Peregrine Falcons breed along the coastal cliffs and on the ledges of some tenements of city buildings. Each is well formed and gorgeously aligned with the hatchet-like and compact strong birds of prey and sharp pointed nails.

• Weight: 500-1,500 grams
• Wingspan: 2-4 feet
• Habitat: Coastal areas, urban buildings
• Diet: Birds, small mammals
• Speed: Up to 240 mph (in dive)
• Found in Florida: Coastal cities, statewide

5. Barred Owl (Strix varia)

The present bird is the Barred Owl, a night-flying owl, which is one of the unfamiliar species in Florida birds of prey. It is well known to let out the spine-chilling ‘who-cooks-for-you’ sound and feeds on small mammals, birds, and amphibians in Florida’s scrub forests. The species is quite vocal when silent; this means that Barred Owls can hunt their prey without being noticed. Locally globed with swamps and woods of Florida which build nests in holes in trees.

• Weight: 500-1,050 grams
• Wingspan: 3-4 feet
• Habitat: Forests, swamps
• Diet: Small mammals, amphibians
• Speed: 20-30 mph
• Found in Florida: Wooded areas, statewide

6. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

One of the most proficient fish-catching avians of Florida is the Osprey. From this it plunges into water, and when it does it feeds on fish which are its main source of food. Source information states that Ospreys prefer Areas such as lakes, water systems, and the sea in Florida; the birds nest on large platforms or tree tops. Ospreys are known for their dark eye stripe and hooked beak and are an important component of the coastal ecosystems of Florida.

• Weight: 1.4-2 kg
• Wingspan: 5-6 feet
• Habitat: Coastal regions, lakes, rivers
• Diet: Fish | Speed: Up to 50 mph
• Found in Florida: Coastal areas, statewide

7. Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Red-tailed hawks are one of the most widely distributed birds of prey in Florida among all bird species. These birds are rather large hawks with reddish tails and they prefer to hunt in quiet heights, observing the ground area for small mammals and reptiles. It can be a predatory animal, which hunts for food, Depending on the necessities they are nomadic animals that can inhabit barren lands, forests, and plains. The Red-tailed hawk is important in the regulation of rodents in the Florida environment.

• Weight: 690-1,300 grams
• Wingspan: 4 feet
• Habitat: Forest edges, open fields
• Diet: Small mammals, reptiles
• Speed: 40-60 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide

8. Swallow-Tailed Kite (Elanoidesforficatus)

The Swallow Tailed kite is one of the most elegant Florida birds of prey with an elongated forked tail and neat black/white coaching. These birds are such impressive fliers-they soar above forest and swamp in the way natives are fond of saying simply, ‘looking for ants and lizards’. As a migratory bird, SwallowTailed Kites are quite social but prefer to travel in flock-like formations. Due to their grace and appearance, are loved by birders in Florida, and this is why the white pelicans are their favorite.

• | Weight: 310-400 grams
• Wingspan: 4 feet
• Habitat: Forests, swamps
• Diet: Insects, small reptiles
• Speed: Up to 80 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide, near swamps

9. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

It is locally known as the ‘tiger of the sky’, and the Great Horned Owl is undoubtedly one of the most formidable of all Florida birds of prey. Standing at about 48 inches in height, a large, yellow eyes, and ear tufts, the animal is a nocturnal predator that feeds on birds, mammals, and even skunks. This bird has a mighty beak and strong talons that are capable of squeezing the bones; thus the owl is a very good predator. They are well suited to diverse habitats, which make them common in every region of Florida, extending from woodlands to metropolitan cities.

• Weight: 1.4-2.5 kg
• Wingspan: 4.6-5 feet
• Habitat: Forests, woodlands, swamps
• Diet: Small mammals, birds, reptiles
• Speed: Up to 40 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide

10.Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

The Cooper’s Hawk is among the less common Florida birds of prey due to its relatively medium size but impressive flying abilities. These hawks prefer hunting in forests in that they move within the forest in order to trap other smaller birds and mammals. Cooper’s Hawks are ambush predators since they can perch without moving until the animal they are stalking comes close prompting an attack. They can therefore be found in the rural as well as the urban environment all over Florida.

• Weight: 300-600 grams
• Wingspan: 2-3 feet
• Habitat: Forests, woodlands
• Diet: Birds, small mammals
• Speed: Up to 55 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide

11. Mississippi Kite (Ictiniamississippiensis)

The Mississippi Kite is a graceful flyer on the list of Florida birds of prey and is famous for giving mid-air hunt for insects. Common near open ground and marshy lands, these kites are a delight for bird watchers. Their main diet consists of insects they put into their beaks with their strong feet and claws but they occasionally kill mice, shrews, and voles. The Mississippi Kite breeds in Central and South America and during summer, they will visit Florida.

• Weight: 270-380 grams
• Wingspan: 2-3 feet
• Habitat: Open fields, wetlands
• Diet: Insects, small mammals
• Speed: Up to 40 mph
• Found in Florida: Northern parts during migration

12. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Being an important scavenger bird among the Florida birds of prey, the Turkey Vultures play an important role in ensuring Florida’s cleanliness because their diet primarily consists of carrion. By the private eye, this bird has a good olfactory organ, which helps locate dead animals a great deal, thereby eradicating carcasses before they spread diseases. These are birds that are seen gliding in wide circles above plains, thereby relying mostly on thermal air to go around in circles easily. Although they do not fall under the category of predators they serve a lot of useful purposes in the food chain.

• Weight: 1.5-2 kg
• Wingspan: 6 feet
• Habitat: Forests, grasslands, coastal areas
• Diet: Carrion
• Speed: Up to 60 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide

13. Black Vulture (Coragypsatratus)

The second major scavenger among the members of birds of prey in Florida is the Black Vulture which is often sighted soaring with Turkey Vultures. Its head is bald, and its beak very strong, so it effectively peels and rips through thick carcasses, contributing to the sanitation of Florida’s wildlands. Another bird of the vulture family is the Black Vultures and they are social birds, which will group together usually found in regions with highways to patrol or openly where road kill is easy to come by. They are very important in helping in stopping the spread of the disease infection.

• Weight: 1.6-2.5 kg
• Wingspan: 5-6 feet
• Habitat: Open fields, urban areas, woodlands
• Diet: Carrion
• Speed: Up to 50 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide

14. Short-Tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)

The Short Tailed Hawk is smaller and less famous compared to other Florida birds of prey, but the hunting abilities of the type remain great. This specific hawk is known to have variations: the light morph and the dark morph and this particular, feeds mainly on birds. It flies in the sky mainly through thermals and attempts to fly low looking for prey. Short-tailed hawks prefer living in Florida where they reside in areas that include open ranch and timberland habitats, the birds build their nests in tall trees.

• Weight: 365-650 grams
• Wingspan: 3 feet
• Habitat: Open fields, woodlands
• Diet: Small birds
• Speed: Up to 50 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide

15. Merlin (Falco columbarius)

Merlin is a swift falcon and is one of the small but swift Florida birds of prey. It employs speed and quick capture it feeds on small birds that may be flying it is mostly seen chasing the birds while flying. Merlins typically winter in Florida but arrive from farther north. It always has a fierce hunting behavior and large sharp talons which make it dangerous despite its size.

• Weight: 160-250 grams
• Wingspan: 2 feet
• Habitat: Open fields, coastal areas
• Diet: Small birds, insects
• Speed: Up to 30 mph
• Found in Florida: During winter

16. Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)

Although it is not an endemic bird found in Florida the Gyrfalcon is an impressive bird of prey that occasionally migrates to the area. Apart from its size, this bird is characterized as a raptor whose diet comprises birds and mammals – it breeds in the Arctic. It is quite muscular, agile, and a formidable bird of prey in particular in regions it is adapted to, besides, sightings of it in Florida elicit fascination from bird watchers.

• Weight: 1.2-2.1 kg
• Wingspan: 4 feet
• Habitat: Arctic regions, open tundra
• Diet: Birds, small mammals
• Speed: Up to 60 mph
• Found in Florida: Rare, during migration

17. Rough-Legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)

The chicks of this species are noted to be covered with down and are initially below the size of a sparrow for it is a winter visitor to Florida and is resident in the Arctic and northern regions. Just like some other birds of prey, it is gifted with feathered legs which are very useful especially whenever the climate is very cold. As a bird of prey, this bird feeds on small mammals and other birds; before capturing its food it will fly low above the ground searching for its prey. Seldom observed in Florida it breaches occasionally during its southern migrations.

• Weight: 600-1,350 grams
• Wingspan: 4-5 feet
• Habitat: Open tundra, grasslands
• Diet: Small mammals, birds
• Speed: Up to 30 mph
• Found in Florida: Rare, during migration

18. Broad-Winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

Another bird of Florida migration, the Broad-Winged Hawk belongs to the category of Small Hawks in the Birds of Florida. This hawk is easily recognizable by its shrill whistle; it starts migrating in large flocks, called kettles. Florida’s woodlands are not endangered in any way as the Broad-Winged Hawks feed on small mammals, reptiles, and insects thus acting as controllers of the balance of Florida’s woodlands.

• Weight: 265-560 grams
• Wingspan: 3-3.5 feet
• Habitat: Forest edges, woodlands
• Diet: Small mammals, reptiles, insects
• Speed: Up to 50 mph
• Found in Florida: During migration

19. Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

Talked about one of Florida’s birds of prey called the Northern Harrier, which has an owl-like facial disk that allows it to find food through sounds. These hawks tend to occupy sea shores, meadows, and marshes, and different from sharp-sightedness they also pinpoint the acoustical vibrations of small mammals and birds found on the ground. Their movements are quite slow aerial and are, indeed often found in Florida’s swampy landscapes.

• Weight: 390-750 grams
• Wingspan: 3.5-4.5 feet
• Habitat: Marshes, open fields
• Diet: Small mammals, birds
• Speed: Up to 40 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide, near wetlands

20. Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)

Although it does not fit into the raptor family, the Limpkin is often included among Florida birds of prey, for it hunts small animals. Found in the wetland of Florida it feeds mainly on freshwater snails using its long bill to pull them out of their shells. Limpkins are also noted for their loud phenomenal calls that make them easily identified especially at night.

• Weight: 900-1,200 grams
• Wingspan: 3-4 feet
• Habitat: Wetlands
• Diet: Snails, mollusks
• Speed: Up to 30 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide, near wetlands

21. White-Tailed Kite (Elanusleucurus)

White-Tailed Kite is a beautiful bird and an excellent flyer, sometimes it may spend much of its time aloft hunting for small rodents and birds. This is a Florida bird of prey raptor, by appearance, this bird has a white color with a gray wing and Black shoulder stripes. Its flight is graceful and they can commonly be sighted in open country where they look out for their meals from a great distance.

• Weight: 290-380 grams
• Wingspan: 3.5 feet
• Habitat: Open fields, grasslands
• Diet: Small mammals, birds
• Speed: Up to 50 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide

22. Snail Kite (Rostrhamussociabilis)

Snail Kite is an ostrich among Florida birds of Prey with a preference for apple snails prevalent in the marshes. As it has a curved beak the Snail Kite takes out snails from their shells. These birds are mainly found especially in the Florida Everglades region and some other parts of Florida to ensure they control the snail density.

• Weight: 300-600 grams
• Wingspan: 3.5-4 feet
• Habitat: Wetlands
• Diet: Apple snails
• Speed: Up to 40 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide, near wetlands

23. Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

The Goshawk is a large bird, a raptor, which possesses great muscling and is characterized by fairly predatory characteristics when hunting birds and small mammals. This raptor though a rare bird is occasionally seen in Florida during periods of migration. It makes it quite a dangerous Florida bird of prey because of its pugnacious hunting stance coupled with its dangerous-looking sharp claws.

• Weight: 630-1,360 grams
• Wingspan: 3-4 feet
• Habitat: Forests
• Diet: Birds, small mammals
• Speed: Up to 50 mph
• Found in Florida: Rare

24. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

While the Common Buzzard is not restricted to Florida, this is an occupational European raptor that occasionally migrates to Florida. A favorite bird of prey with a versatile diet, the Common Buzzard diet includes small mammals, birds, and carrion which keeps unholy alliances in its habitat. Large wings and dark colors make it easy to distinguish it from other birds especially while flying.

• Weight: 400-1,400 grams
• Wingspan: 4 feet
• Habitat: Forests, open fields
• Diet: Small mammals, birds, carrion
• Speed: Up to 40 mph
• Found in Florida: Rare

25. Sharp-Shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

A brief on the Florida birds of prey: Sharp-Shinned Hawk The Sharp-Shinned Hawk is a small but aggressive bird of the Florida area. This animal catches little birds selectively; it can jump from one tree branch to the other within the blink of an eye. Sharp-shinned hawks are distributed throughout Florida and are most easily observed in wooded habitats, as they are such skilled and sneaky hunters.

• Weight: 87-218 grams
• Wingspan: 17-23 inches
• Habitat: Forests, woodlands
• Diet: Small birds
• Speed: Up to 50 mph
• Found in Florida: Statewide

26. Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

The Ferruginous Hawk is one of the largest hawks in North America; the bird has a timid appearance with often rust-red wings. Although it is not a local breeding bird in Florida, it may be found during the migration period. This bird feeds on small mammals and other birds it catches using its sharp claws and pecks from its powerful beak.

• Weight: 2-4 pounds
• Wingspan: 4.5-5 feet
• Habitat: Open grasslands
• Diet: Small mammals, birds
• Speed: Up to 30 mph
• Found in Florida: Rare

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Final Thoughts

Below, 30 shocking types of Florida birds of prey illustrate the great variations of raptors in Florida habitats. Tags Each Bird from the Falco to the Aegyptius Is being instrument Balancing nature and our beliefs that everything has to be done in moderation. In such a way, it would be very deserved if people would pay more attention and support with the aim of saving such magnificent birds for future generations.