Falcons are characterized by long pointed wings, a notched upper beak and being very streamlined. They are the fastest flyers of the birds of prey, with the peregrine being perhaps the fastest in the world. In all the birds of prey the female is the largest, sometimes being as much as a third larger than the male.
Hawks are more commonly seen than falcons, except for the kestrel falcon. Hawks are grouped into two general categories: the accipiters or woodland hawks and the buteos, or soaring hawks. Hawks are not as streamlined as falcons and have shorter rounded wings.
Sharp-skinned hawk - Accipiter striatusLike a small goshawk, length 10 to 24 inches. This bird's habits are much like the goshawk. Nests on Prince Edward Island but not common.
Red-tailed hawk – Buteo jamaicensis
19 to 24 inches in length. Usually seen soaring over open woodland and fields. Not a common hawk but has been known to nest. Feeds on rodents, snakes, frogs, etc.
Rough-legged hawk – Buteo lagopus
Another large soaring hawk 19 to 24 inches in length. This bird does not nest here, but is a common winter visitor from the north.
Marsh hawk – Circus cyaneus
17 to 24 inches in length. Usually seen flying low over fields and marsh searching for mice and other small creations. Has a partial facial disc similar to owls. Nests on the ground. Females and young are brownish, adult males are pale blue-grey.
Osprey or Fish Hawk – Pandion haliaetus
The Osprey is 21 to 25 inches in length and larger than every other hawk except the eagle. Its underparts are white unlike the eagle. This bird is adapted to catching and holding fish because its outer toe is reversible and the soles are covered with spiny processes. It usually nests in tops of dead trees near water.
OwlsMost owls feed at night although a few such as the great horned and snowy owls also feed during the day. Owls have keen eyesight and perhaps even keener hearing, experiments with owls in total darkness have proven that owls can pinpoint their prey by hearing alone. Their flight feathers have a velvet like covering which enables them to fly silently.
 | Great horned owl – Bubo virginianus One of our largest owls (18 to 25 inches in length) and most common. Feeds mostly on rodents but can take larger animals to the size of snowshoe hare, this owl is the only natural predator of the skunk. Nests in trees in early Spring.Snowy owl – Nyctea scandiaca A large winter visitor from the North, 22 to 27 inches in length. Nests on the ground in the arctic tundra. Barred owl – Strix varia A large brown and white owl, 18 to 23 inches in length. Feeds chiefly on rodents, nests in hollow trees and old hawk or crow nests. | |
Long-eared owl – Asio otus
A small owl 13 to 16 inches in length. Has very long ear tufts as its name implies. Found in the denser woods and nests in trees.
Short-eared owl – Asio flammeus
Like a long-eared owl with shorter ear tufts. This owl frequents open fields and marsh lands and nests on the ground.
Boreal owl – Aegolius funereus
A small owl 8 to 12 inches in length, no ear tufts, nests in tree cavities. An owl of the forest.
Saw-whet owl – Aegolius acadicus
Our smallest owl 7 to 9 inches in length. A woodland owl, nests in old flicker nests and other cavities.
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Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife FederationAll pictures appearing on this site or its associated flickr account are the property of the photographers and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.
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