Texas is huge. Sky that’s really, really big, geology that’s really, really big, and wildlife that’s really, really big. And above the best of aerial animals in the sky of Texas are birds of prey. Also called raptors, they are monarchs and monarchines of the air with eagle vision, killing talons, and unbiased skills of predation.
From bald eagles flying rivers to red-tailed hawks flying heavens over interstates, Texas has half-a-dozen or so raptor species. Some live here year-round. A few more travel through in waves of flashy season migration. All contribute to the geography and culture of the state.
This tour introduces you to Texas birds of prey—hawks, owls, falcons, eagles, kites, and vultures. We go over species, habitat, behavior, cultural importance, and viewing them in the wild.
What Are Birds of Prey?
Birds of prey are meat-eating flesh-eating birds. The perfect size to be so. Below are the characteristics that prove them so:
- A keen eye sight – seeing prey from afar.
- Hooked bills – rending flesh.
- Pierreous talons – snatch and slay prey.
- Strong flight – swoop, dive, or glide in to kill.
Texas raptors are small American-style like kestrels, mammoth and golden-style like eagles.
Principal Classes of Texas Birds of Prey
- Hawks – strong open field and forest predators.
- Eagles – strong, large, symbolic birds.
- Falcons – fast, nimble, speed devils.
- Owls – silent night-stalking killers.
- Kites – soaring gliders.
- Vultures – scavengers cleaning up the world.
Texas Hawks
Red-Tailed Hawk
Most. Most Texas hawkestypically seen.
Easiest to spot by red tail.
Will most often be posted on fence rails along road.
Prey: rabbits, rodents, snakes.
Cooper’s Hawk
Forest stalker.
Boastfully claims to stalk songbirds through forest.
Long tail and squared wings make very flying bird.
Special note: Harris’s Hawk
Social South Texas desert hawk.
Hunts in pairs, a hawk by birth.
Very intelligent and cooperative, seen often along Rio Grande.
Swainson’s Hawk
Summering Texas migrant hawk.
Binds on historic winter migrations to South America thousands of miles.
Good food source, grasshoppers.
Texas Eagles
Bald Eagle
American national symbol.
Builds nests close to Texas lakes and rivers.
White head and tail spot in adults.
Conservation success: from near extinction, now healthy.
Golden Eagle
West Texas desert environment and mountain.
Strong hunter of small deer and jackrabbits.
Dark crown and wings with golden crown-like markings.
Texas Falcons
American Kestrel
Lightest falcon in Texas.
Adorned with blue-gray wings.
Harasses small mammals and insects.
May hover on wing before stooping.
Peregrine Falcon
Air speedster.
World’s fastest migrant makes stop at Texas shores and cliffs.
Warmly-legendary 200+ mph stooping dives.
Prairie Falcon
Western peregrine relative.
West Texas open range, dry country dweller.
Sky Agile little mammal hunter.
Owls of Texas
Great Horned Owl
Yeaer-round inhabitant of all Texas habitats.
“Dusk echo” or “Nosithatoulouse” call at dusk.
Powerful predator stalks skunks.
Barn Owl
White, heart-shaped face disk.
Ghostly pallor in low light.
Eats mice in fields and barns.
Burrowing Owl
Overruns West Texas prairie dog towns.
Day owl, out of place for the species.
Goofy-lookin’ legs.
Texas Kites
Mississippi Kite
Texas summer bird of Turquoise blue sky.
Lightning flyer, snagged in mid-air flying insects.
Seen in large flocks overhead.
Swallow-Tailed Kite
Shy but beautiful.
Black-and-white stripes, forked tail.
Aerialist acrobat.
Vultures of Texas
Turkey Vulture
Statewide common scavenger.
Red crest, sensitive bill.
Soars on circular flight on thermals.
Black Vulture
More compact than turkey vulture.
Shorter tail and black head.
Dependent on eyesight, often follows turkey vultures in to feed.
Vultures will never consume live prey, yet are members of cleanup crews.
Texas’s Common Birds of Prey
| Group | Species | Key Feature | Region in Texas |
| Hawk | Red-Tailed Hawk | Red tail, highway hunter | Statewide |
| Hawk | Harris’s Hawk | Hunts in groups | South Texas |
| Eagle | Bald Eagle | White head, national symbol | Lakes & rivers |
| Eagle | Golden Eagle | Mountain hunter | West Texas |
| Falcon | Peregrine Falcon | Fastest bird alive | Coasts & cliffs |
| Falcon | American Kestrel | Tiny falcon, hovers | Statewide |
| Owl | Great Horned Owl |
Where to See Birds of Prey in Texas
- Big Bend National Park – golden eagles, prairie falcons.
- Rio Grande Valley – crested caracaras, Harris’s hawks.
- East Texas woods – owls, Cooper’s hawks.
- Texas Gulf Coast – wintering peregrine falcons.
- Rivers and lakes – wintering bald eagles.
Birds of Prey in Texas Culture
The bald eagle is a symbol of America.
The red-tailed hawk is a hero in many Native American legends.
The caracara, or “Mexican eagle,” is an icon of South Texas culture.
Owls are Texas folklore symbols for something unseen.
Interesting Texas Birds of Prey Facts
- Harris’s hawks are a rare raptor that prey in groups similar to wolves.
- The stooping speed of the peregrine falcon is fastest on our earth.
- Turkey vultures possess an excellent sense of smell wherein they are able to smell a carcass from one mile away.
- Burrowing owls will even decorate burrows with cow dung with the expectation of eradicating insects.
- Bald eagles are known to be monogamous and reuse enormous nests year to year.
Texas Raptors Conservation
- Habitat loss due to urbanization.
- Pest birds poisoned by insecticides.
- Car and power-line mishaps.
Conservation does pay, though. Bald eagles saved from extinction following DDT prohibitions. Peregrine falcons once more making a comeback from the brink of extinction. Texas Parks and Wildlife and others continue to save raptor habitat.
Texas Birds of Prey FAQs
What is the most prevalent bird of prey in Texas?
Red-tailed hawk is ubiquitous in the state and often roadside.
Do Texas have bald eagles?
Whoa, great question.
Yes, particularly along rivers and lakes during winter.
What Texas raptor bird is the fastest flyer?
The 200+ mph peregrine falcon stoop.
Are vultures birds of prey?
Yes, but they are scavengers, not hunters.
Where are Texas raptors most easily observed?
Big Bend, Rio Grande Valley, and the Gulf Coast are good bets.
Raptors rule blue skies above Texas. From turkey vulture to bald eagle, raptors protect the world and awe us. To follow a red-tailed hawk ride the winds or a great horned owl welcome us home to raw nature’s beauty.
Texas raptors: stories of power, strength, and survival. Predators, scavengers, omens, and sentinels of the world. Their conservation is Texas balance.
Look up every now and then. Scan the horizon. A shadow will fly by. A hawk, eagle, or owl on patrol. Lone Star skies are no strangers to wild.
