THE IDENTIFICATION OF HAWKS IN THE FIELD 
CHARLES W. TOWNSEND, M. D. 
The identification of hawks in the field is comparatively 
simple yet many bird students dispair of it except in the case 
of a few well-marked birds. One reason for this lack of con¬ 
fidence is, I believe, largely due to the fact that artificial keys 
for identification dwell on markings, and as these markings, 
with few exceptions, can rarely be made out in the field, the 
student is naturally pessimistic as regards accurate identi¬ 
fication. Since a very large proportion of the hawks met 
with in the field are on the wing, it is evident that one must 
depend for identification to a large extent on the general 
form of the bird and on the manner of flight. 
With the exception of the Marsh Hawk, the Bald Eagle 
and the Osprey — all of which are easily recognized — the 
hawks of Essex County in particular and Northeastern America 
in general fall into three groups, viz.: the Falcons, the Buteos 
and the Accipiters. These groups are fundamental, easily 
identified, and, if once learned, the key to the hawks is within 
reach. 
I. The Falcons, which include the Sparrow Hawk, the 
Pigeon Hawk, the Duck Hawk and the rare Gyrfalcons, are 
distinguished by their long, narrow pointed wings that reach 
nearly to the end of their long tails, and by their swift and 
graceful flight. 
II. The Buteos, which include the Broad-Winged Hawk, 
the Red Shouldered Hawk, the Red-tailed Hawk and the 
Rough-legged Hawk, are distinguished by their broad wings, 
their short tails and their frequent habit of soaring in circles. 
III. The Accipiters, which include the Sharp-shinned 
Hawk, the Cooper’s Hawk and the Goshawk, are distinguished 
by their short, broad wings which reach only to the base of 
their long tails, and by their habit of alternately sailing and 
flapping in flight. 
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