The Swainson’s Hawk is a large, long-winged raptor that breeds across much of Arizona’s open country, particularly in grasslands, agricultural areas, and desert valleys with scattered trees for nesting. Adults typically have brown upperparts, a pale underbelly, and a contrasting dark chest, though plumage can vary from light to dark morphs. They arrive in Arizona from their wintering grounds in South America in spring, with peak numbers in April and May, and depart in late summer to early fall, often gathering in large flocks during migration. Their diet shifts seasonally, consisting mainly of mammals, birds, and reptiles during the breeding season, and switching to grasshoppers and other insects later in summer when prey is abundant. Swainson’s Hawks are known for their spectacular long-distance migrations, and Arizona’s broad valleys provide important nesting and foraging habitat for this species each year.
