Photo by Terry Stevens

Raptor Species

The following list contains raptor species that breed, winter, or have been documented in Arizona.  The department tracks the occurrence of some of these species and provides life history information and distribution maps. Many of the species listed here have not been studied and information on those are incomplete. Click on the links to find more information on a particular species in Arizona.

Further information on these and other raptors can be found on:

• The Peregrine Fund’s website.
• Arizona Wildlife Raptors booklet.
• Raptors of Arizona poster.

New World Vultures

• California Condor  (Gymnogyps californianus) [AGFD Web Page, Account]
• Black Vulture  (Coragyps atratus)
• Turkey Vulture  (Cathartes aura)

Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies

• Osprey  (Pandion haliaetus) [Picture, Account, Map]

• Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) [Account, Map]
• Swallow-tailed Kite  (Elanoides forficatus)
• White-tailed Kite  (Elanus leucurus) [Picture, Account, Map]

• Bald Eagle  (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) [AGFD Web Page, Account, Map]
• Golden Eagle  (Aquila chrysaetos) [AGFD Web Page, Account, Map]

• Northern Harrier  (Circus cyaneus) [Picture]

• Cooper’s Hawk  (Accipiter cooperii) [Picture]
• Northern Goshawk  (Accipiter gentilis) [Picture, Account, Map]
• Sharp-shinned Hawk  (Accipiter striatus)

• Common Black-Hawk  (Buteogallus anthracinus) [Picture, Account, Map]
• Broad-winged Hawk  (Buteo platypterus)
• Ferruginous Hawk  (Buteo regalis) [Picture, Account, Map]
• Gray Hawk  (Buteo nitidus) [ Account, Map]
• Harris’s Hawk  (Parabuteo unicinctus) [Picture]
• Red-shouldered Hawk  (Buteo lineatus)
• Red-tailed Hawk  (Buteo jamaicensis) [Picture]
• Rough-legged Hawk  (Buteo lagopus)
• Short-tailed Hawk  (Buteo brachyurus) [Account]
• Swainson’s Hawk  (Buteo swainsoni) [Picture, Account, Map]
• White-tailed Hawk  (Buteo albicaudatus)
• Zone-tailed Hawk  (Buteo albonotatus) [Picture]

Caracaras and Falcons

• Crested Caracara  (Caracara cheriway) [Picture, Account, Map]

• Aplomado Falcon  (Falco femoralis) [Account]
• American Kestrel  (Falco sparverius) [Picture]
• Merlin  (Falco columbarius)
• Peregrine Falcon  (Falco peregrinus) [AGFD Web Page, Account, Map]
• Prairie Falcon  ( Falco mexicanus)

Barn Owls

• Barn Owl  (Tyto alba)

Typical Owls

• Burrowing Owl  (Athene cunicularia) [AGFD Web Page, Account, Map]
• Elf Owl  (Micrathene whitneyi)
• Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl  (Glaucidium brasilianum) [AGFD Web Page, Account]
• Flammulated Owl  (Otus flammeolus) [Picture, Account, Map]
• Great Horned Owl  (Bubo virginianus)
• Long-eared Owl  (Asio otus)
• Northern Pygmy-Owl  (Glaucidium gnoma)
• Northern Saw-whet Owl  (Aegolius acadicus)
• Short-eared Owl  (Asio flammeus)
• Spotted Owl  (Strix occidentalis) [Picture, Account, Map]
• Western Screech-Owl  (Megascops kennicottii)
• Whiskered Screech-Owl  (Megascops trichopsis)