Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus) is in the Hawks, Eagles, and Kites family (Accipitridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,781 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Zone-tailed Hawk: observations by month (U.S.)
About Zone-tailed Hawk
The zone-tailed hawk (Buteo albonotatus) is a medium-sized hawk of warm, dry parts of the Americas. It is somewhat similar in plumage and flight style to a common scavenger, the turkey vulture, and may benefit from being able to blend into groups of vultures. It feeds on small terrestrial tetrapods of all kinds.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Zone-tailed Hawk by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1,164 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Texas | 1,133 | April | Nov–Sep |
| California | 323 | January | Aug–Mar |
| New Mexico | 118 | April | Apr–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 19 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Nevada | 8 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Colorado | 6 | April | Apr–May |
| Utah | 6 | April | Apr–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
Red-tailed Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Harrier
Mississippi Kite
Swainson's Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Zone-tailed Hawk?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to September.
Where is Zone-tailed Hawk most often seen?
The most observations come from Arizona, Texas, California.