What Does a Hawk Sound Like? (Animal Answers)

In this guide, we’ll answer the question:

“What does a hawk sound like?

First, you’ll find a short summary explaining the sounds a hawk can produce, then you’ll get a list of audio samples to listen to real hawk sounds: both adult hawks and juvenile hawk calls.

Hawks are carnivorous birds of prey of the family Accipitridae within the class Aves in the order Accipitriformes. Hawks can live anywhere but are commonly found in North America, Central America, the West Indies, and Jamaica.

What does a hawk sound like

What Does a Hawk Sound Like?

A hawk sounds like a high-pitched screech that can sound like a hoarse, screaming kee-eeeee-arr, a rising whine followed by a series of two-parted notes, or a 3-note whistled call. The hawk’s sound varies depending on the species and age of the bird.

Hawk Sounds

Cooper’s Hawk Sound

Adult Cooper’s Hawk Call

Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk Call

Gray Hawk Sound

Adult Gray Hawk Call

Juvenile Gray Hawk Call

Red-Tailed Hawk Sound

Adult Red-Tailed Hawk Call

Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk Call

White-Tailed Hawk Sound

Adult White-Tailed Hawk

Juvenile White-Tailed Hawk

Why Do Hawks Keep Screeching?

Hawks keep screeching to announce their territory during mating season. Male hawks will keep screeching as part of the mating ritual until the bird attracts a partner.

Female hawks also screech during courtship; however, the most screeching occurs when protecting the nest during the fledgling season. A female hawk will screech to lure predators away from the nest so the juvenile birds can survive.

What Bird Can Sound Like a Hawk?

The Blue Jay and European Starling can sound like a hawk. These birds mimic the hawk sound to warn other birds of their species that a hawk is in the area and to scare away predators.

What Animal Sounds like a Hawk at Night?

The Northern Hawk Owl sounds like a hawk at night. This species of owl behaves like a hawk and sounds like a hawk, but looks like an owl.

Northern Hawk Owl Sound

Learn More About Hawks

Now that you know more about hawks and their sounds, you may also be interested in these other educational guides on these birds:

Hawk flying not making a sound

Hawk Sound Summary

You now know what does a hawk sound like.

As you discovered in this guide, a hawk sounds like a high-pitched screech that can sound like a hoarse, screaming kee-eeeee-arr, a rising whine followed by a series of two-parted notes, or a 3-note whistled call. However, the hawk’s sound will vary depending on the species and age of the bird.