Migrant type: Long-distance migrant

In Montana, these birds typically can be found in the northeastern section of the state during migration. They will migrate in large flocks that may contain thousands of individual birds. These large groups of raptors are called a “kettle” and, with most groups of raptors, happen only in migration seasons. This is because many raptors are more solitary birds that have their own hunting and breeding territories. During migration, however, birds will often take the same routes due to topography. Especially with birds migrating from North America down to South America.

Broad-winged hawks typically live in forests and spend most of their time underneath the canopy. They sometimes soar above the canopy or across gaps. When they migrate, they utilize thermals but also fly along coastlines and mountain ridges to use the updrafts coming off them.

They, like many other hawk species, have light morph and dark morph colorations. Their horizontal black and white striping across their tails helps to tell them apart from other hawk species in Montana. They are also quite a bit smaller than most buteo hawks, broad wings with short fan-like tail, and are about half the weight of Red-tailed hawks.