Broad-winged Hawk Population Analysis
Broad-winged Hawk has held roughly steady: up 7% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the Broad-winged Hawk
The Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a North American member of the Hawks, Eagles & Kites (Accipitridae). In this analysis it is grouped with the birds of prey.
- Size
- 17.5–39.5 in long (45–100 cm) — a medium to large raptor (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Open country, woodlands, cliffs and wetlands, hunting from the air or a high perch.
- Diet
- Live prey — small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and large insects (carrion for vultures).
- Range
- Recorded on 1,460 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 37 states, most concentrated in the Appalachian Mountains.
- Family
- Accipitridae · Birds of prey
Notable Broad-winged Hawk TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
No notable trend signals for Broad-winged Hawk. See the full index history below.
Broad-winged Hawk Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, Broad-winged Hawk is projected to fall about 11% by 2030 — from 0.10 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.09 (95% range 0.06–0.12). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±15.9%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the Broad-winged Hawk Is Detected
BBS routes recording Broad-winged Hawk, sized by most recent count.
Broad-winged Hawk Population Trend by State
Broad-winged Hawk Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
Broad-winged Hawk Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 7% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.