Raptors of Hawk Hill

How to identify 19 species of birds of prey during fall migration season

Cooper's Hawk
Adult Cooper's Hawk

Phoebe Parker Shames/GGRO Volunteer

Cooper's Hawk
A juvenile Cooper's Hawk photographed from Hawk Hill. Note the rounded tail versus the squared-off tail of the very similar Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Phoebe Parker Shames/GGRO Volunteer

Cooper's Hawk
A juvenile Cooper's Hawk takes flight after banding

Mike Armer/GGRO Volunteer

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Mike Armer/GGRO Volunteer

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Adult Sharp-shinned Hawk

George Eade/GGRO Volunteer

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk

Tyson Read/GGRO Volunteer

Northern Goshawk
Northern Goshawk banded by GGRO in 2018 season

Teresa Ely/Parks Conservancy

Northern Goshawk
Northern Goshawk banded by GGRO in 2015 season

Jeff Robinson/GGRO Volunteer

Red-tailed Hawk release
A GGRO volunteer releases a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk after banding.

Emily Abernathy/GGRO Volunteer

Red-tailed Hawk
An adult Red-tailed Hawk captures a squirrel in its talons

Jenni Peters/GGRO Volunteer

Red-tailed Hawk
A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk is photographed before release.

Phoebe Parker Shames/GGRO Volunteer

Red-tailed Hawk
Adult Red-tailed Hawk in flight

Jenni Peters/GGRO Volunteer

Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk

Jean Perata/GGRO Volunteer

Red-shouldered Hawk
Former GGRO Banding Manager Chris Briggs prepares to release a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk after banding

Eddie Bartley/GGRO Volunteer

Red-shouldered Hawk
Adult Red-shouldered Hawk

Jenni Peters/GGRO Volunteer

Broad-winged Hawk
Juvenile Broad-winged Hawk

Willie Hall

Broad-winged Hawk
Adult Broad-winged Hawk

Don Bartling/GGRO Volunteer

Broad-winged Hawk
Juvenile Broad-winged Hawk

David Jesus/GGRO Volunteer

Broad-winged Hawk
This Broad-winged Hawk was fitted with a satellite transmitter before release

David Jesus/GGRO Volunteer

Broad-winged Hawk
Juvenile Broad-winged Hawk

Beth Wommack/GGRO Intern

Swainson's Hawk
Swainson's Hawk

Ken Wilson/GGRO Volunteer

Swainson's Hawk
Swainson's Hawk

George Eade/GGRO Volunteer

Swainson's Hawk
Swainson's Hawk banded by GGRO in 2012

Candace Davenport/GGRO Volunteer

Ferruginous Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk in flight over Hawk Hill

Don Bartling/GGRO Volunteer

Ferruginous Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk in flight over Hawk Hill

Don Bartling/GGRO Volunteer

Ferruginous Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk banded by GGRO in 2017

Teresa Ely/Parks Conservancy

Ferruginous Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk tail

Teresa Ely/Parks Conservancy

Ferruginous Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk

Jeff Robinson/GGRO Volunteer

Ferruginous Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk in flight. Note three prominent light areas on the dorsal side of this bird: two "windows" on the outer wings and the white base of the tail

Don Bartling/GGRO Volunteer

Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk

George Eade/GGRO Volunteer

Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk

Don Bartling/GGRO Volunteer

Rough-legged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk over Fort Cronkhite

George Eade/GGRO Volunteer

Rough-legged Hawk
This Rough-legged Hawk, banded in 2006, is one of only 6 individuals banded by GGRO to date

Russ DeLong/GGRO Volunteer

Rough-legged Hawk
This Rough-legged Hawk, banded in 2006, is one of only 6 individuals banded by GGRO to date

Russ DeLong/GGRO Volunteer

Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture 372 (tagged by GGRO) is seen from Hawk Hill.

Erin Barry/Parks Conservancy

Turkey Vulture Project
GGRO Banding Manager Teresa Ely teaches 2017 interns how to tag a Turkey Vulture

Ben Dudek/GGRO Volunteer

Turkey Vultures
Turkey Vultures feed on a seal carcass

William Legge/GGRO Volunteer

Turkey Vulture
Turkey Vulture 368 seen from Hawk Hill.

Ruth Cantwell/GGRO Volunteer

Peregrine Falcon
An adult Peregrine Falcon flies over Hawk Hill

Don Bartling/GGRO Volunteer

Peregrine Falcon
A juvenile Peregrine Falcon is photographed after being banded

Allen Fish/Parks Conservancy

Peregrine Falcon
A Peregrine Falcon is released after banding

Allen Fish/Parks Conservancy

Prairie Falcon
Prairie Falcon

Siobhan Ruck/GGRO Volunteer

American Kestrel
Female American Kestrel

Ryan Bourbour/GGRO Volunteer

American Kestrel
A GGRO volunteer prepares to release a male American Kestrel after banding

Jennifer Gale/GGRO Volunteer

American Kestrel
Female American Kestrel tail

Ryan Bourbour/GGRO Volunteer

Merlin
GGRO volunteers photograph a Merlin after banding

Phoebe Parker Shames/GGRO Volunteer

Merlin
A Merlin jets past Hawk Hill

George Eade/GGRO Volunteer

Merlin
Merlin

Jeff Robinson/GGRO Volunteer

Bald Eagle
Adult Bald Eagle

Don Bartling/GGRO Volunteer

Bald Eagle
Sub-adult Bald Eagle

Phoebe Parker Shames/GGRO Volunteer

Golden Eagle
Sub-adult Golden Eagle

Mary Malec/GGRO Volunteer

Northern Harrier
Adult male Northern Harrier

Mary Malec/GGRO Volunteer

Northern Harrier
Juvenile Northern Harrier

Jeff Robinson/GGRO Volunteer

Juvenile Northern Harrier
Female Northern Harrier

Jeff Robinson/GGRO Volunteer

Osprey
Osprey over Hawk Hill

David Jesus/GGRO Volunteer

Osprey
Osprey over Hawk Hill

Ruth Cantwell/GGRO Volunteer

Osprey
Osprey

George Eade/GGRO Volunteer

White-tailed Kite
Note the buffy streaking on the chest of this juvenile White-tailed Kite.

George Eade/GGRO Volunteer

White-tailed Kite
White-tailed Kite

George Eade/GGRO Volunteer

White-tailed Kite
White-tailed Kite

George Eade/GGRO Volunteer

© 2026 Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. All rights reserved.