The broad-winged hawk is small (42 cm, or 17 in long) and appears somewhat chunky. This is due to the wings being almost as wide as they are long and the short wide tail. The crown and back are dark greyish-brown in color. From below, the wings are white with contrasting black tips, and the breast and abdomen are white, barred with brown. The most distinguishing feature is the broadly barred tail.

The broad-winged hawk ranges throughout wooded areas of Canada and the eastern United States, east of the Rockies. The breeding season is spent in Canada, and the south-eastern United States provide wintering grounds. In Alberta, the broad-winged hawk prefers mixed-wood forests and groves of deciduous trees in the mixed-wood life zones.

Nests are built in trees, and 2 to 4 eggs are laid.

Unlike other buteos, this small hawk seldom soars, or perches in the open when hunting, but stays in the confines of the woods. Prey species include mice, squirrels, chipmunks and large insects.

Broad-winged hawks characteristically migrate in large flocks.

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