15 Amazing Birds Of Idaho – Characteristic Features & Behaviour

Idaho is known because of its mountainy landscapes. There are major spots where you can find a huge variety of birds. It is the northwest state of USA. People visit this state to enjoy the birding sights in Idaho. Birds of Idaho are very popular as raptors. In this article, we have discussed a few birds of prey living in Idaho.

15 Amazing Birds Of Idaho

Birds of Idaho include a wide variety of birds including various types. You will see a diverse range of owls there. Hawks and eagles are very common. You can find unique kinds of hawks and other birds. Here is the list of fifteen amazing birds of prey that are wide spread in Idaho.

1. Birds Of Idaho – American Kestrel:

American kestrel lives abundantly in Idaho. You will find this bird all year long there. They use to live mostly on high poles. Telephone poles or power lines are common spots where you will see such birds of Idaho.

They also found in open fields. The American kestrel is known as the smallest falcon found in the United States. The average weight is just 3 to 6 ounces. The bird is 8 to 12 inches long. It spreads wings up to 20 to 24 inches. The primary food sources are snakes, lizards, voles, mice, and many insects.

One interesting fact is they love to eat grasshoppers.

2. Birds Of Idaho – Bald Eagle:

Well, if you visit Idaho in winters, this would be the best time to watch bald eagles. They are mostly found there during winters. Lake Coeur Alene is the perfect place to see these birds. These birds of Idaho are abundantly found near Boise river and Snake river.

A bald eagle is well known for raptors. The birds are 38 inches in length with a wide wingspan of 8 feet approximately. So, it is known as the largest bird of prey there.

The female members of this class are heavier than their male members. Female bald eagle’s weight is 14 pounds while males are of 11.50 pounds. They eat whatever they find to. Bu the most favourite meal is fish.

3. Cooper’s Hawk Of Idaho:

They are called Accipiter cooperi in scientific language. Such hawks are the natives of Idaho. They live there throughout the year. But some of these uses to migrate during winters. They may migrate to stay in warmer places like Mexico. When breeding season comes during spring, they come back to Idaho.

You will find the flocks of cooper’s hawk along the Greenbelt of River Boise. In the World Center for Birds, they do exist there abundantly as raptors. 

Male and female birds of this class have differences in appearance. Male members are bit smaller than females. Females reach up to the 18 inches while males grow to almost 11 inches. The wingspan is the same for both that is 35 inches across.

As far as length varies, the same way height is. Females are heavier than males. Females are about 24 ounces and male members weigh almost 14 ounces.

Such birds of Idaho the Coopers hawks are mainly the hunters. They stay around birds for hunting. Mostly small birds become prey for such predators. Woodpeckers, doves and quails are preys or the good food source for these cooper’s hawks.

4. Ferruginous Hawk Of Idaho:

These are also called as Buteo regalis. In the south of Idaho, you will see just a few ferruginous hawks there. They do not live throughout the year. They rush back to Idaho only during the breeding season. That is why you can enjoy them only in late February or in early March.

If you visit Idaho and interested to see them, you must go to Snake River. Ferruginous hawks mostly live there. These birds of Idaho grow up to 26 inches length. Their wings spread to almost 5 feet. Here the main difference between male and female members is of weight. Females weigh more than males. You will find female hawks about 34 ounces while male hawks weigh 37 ounces.

They love to eat a wide variety of food. On top is small mammals like rabbits and hares. Medium size mammals are also perfect prey for them. These include the gophers and kangaroos.

Other items on the menu are mice, deer, squirrels, rats, and antelope.  Moreover, they also eat some reptiles, birds, amphibians, and insects as well.

5. Golden Eagle Of Idaho:

They are known as Aquila chrysaetos. These are the native birds. You will find them whenever visit Idaho. Because they live there throughout the year. In the southern part of Idaho, golden eagles live in the nests during their breeding season. Mostly they exist at Snake River.

According to the overall size, golden eagles are large enough. The female golden eagles are bigger than the male eagles. The average length of these birds, including male and female, is 31 inches approx. their total wingspan is of 4 feet.

Here female golden eagles are more in weight than males. Male members weigh about 10 pounds and females reach up to 14 pounds. They attack mammals. these include the ground squirrels, dogs, jackrabbits, and marmots.

6. Bird Of Idaho – Northern Goshawk:

These are also called Accipiter gentilis. They live in Idaho throughout the year. The sawtooth national forest is the main habitat of these birds. Interestingly the northern goshawk makes nests live there. They grow up to the 18 to 24 inches in length. Their wingspan is 3 to 4 feet.

Male members of northern goshawks are of 1.13 to 2.44 pounds. The female goshawks are a bit heavier. They weigh 1.8 to 4.8 pounds.

These northern goshawks hunt numerous mammals and birds as well. It all depends upon the surroundings they live in. However, the whole food source include shrews, mice, jackrabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, racoons, foxes, geese, grouse, hares, crows, doves, and woodpeckers.

They are well known to hunt on other birds.  Northern goshawks eat kestrels, honey buzzards, and many owls too.

7. Birds Of Idaho – Northern Harrier:

These are also called Circus hudsonius. They live in Idaho round the year. Most of these northern harriers are abundant in the southern region of Idaho than the north. Strangely, they are called northern harrier, but they live mostly in the southern part.

The reason behind this is the south region o this state is more spacious and open. Thus, it matches perfectly to this royal raptor. These are 25 inches in length while wing spreads up to the 5.5 feet.

Both male and female harriers are almost equal in weight. The only difference is of 0.5, males are of 4 pounds while females weigh about 4.5 pounds. They hunt small mammals usually. In addition to this, other species also make up their diet. They also love to eat birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

8. Prairie Falcons of Idaho:

These are also known as Falco mexicanus. These are not commonly found in Idaho. But they exist there during the breeding season. There is a huge flock of these prairie falcons during this period. It has been estimated that 200 pairs come up to the Snake River in Idaho.

The average length of these falcons is 14.5 to 18.5 inches. The wingspan is 3.7 feet. Male falcons weigh 1 to 11.4 pounds. While the female prairie falcons weigh about 1.5 to 2.5 pounds. The top item in their menu is a mammal, especially squirrels. They love to eat birds like swallows and tanagers. Nighthawks, doves, and pheasants are the perfect food source for these falcons.

9. Red-Tailed Hawk Of Idaho:

This is also called Buteo jamaicensis. There is a stable population of red-tailed hawks in Idaho. You can find these birds of Idaho throughout the state. They are mostly seen on the poles along the roads. They perch on the open field as well. These hawks lengthen up to 23 inches with wingspan reaches around 4.5 feet.

The male hawks are of 2.7 pounds. Female members max out 3.25 pounds almost. They usually eat mice and rats. Other food sources are small mammals, reptiles, and birds too.

10. Rough – Legged Buzzards In Idaho:

These are also known as Buteo lagopus. You will find the buzzards only during winters in Idaho. They mostly breed in the tundra and then migrate towards Idaho. They grow up to the length of 1.5 to 2 feet. Their wingspan is 5 feet maximally.

The male rough-legged buzzards re of 3 pounds and females are bit heavier, 3.65 pounds. They usually hunt small birds and mammals to fulfil their hunger. Moreover, they also prey upon voles and lemmings.

11. Sharp-Shinned Hawk:

These birds of Idaho are also known as Accipiter striatus. You will see a huge number of these hawks there. Mostly they inhabit to the thick forests. Sharp-shinned hawks go to 13 inches in length. Their wingspan is of 20 to 27 inches. They weigh about 7 ounces. The bulk of their diet is fulfilled by small birds. Additionally, they also eat lizards, frogs, insects, and mammals as well.

12. Birds Of Idaho – Barn Owl:

They are called Tyto alba. Such birds of Idaho are also known as night hunters. Barn owls are mostly present in the southwest of Idaho and less in the northern side of the state. They mostly perch in the unrestricted area where they can easily hunt and nest as well. These grow to 14 to 20 inches in length. The wingspan is around 3.5 feet.

The average weight of the owls is 15 ounces. Females are heavier than males. They mostly hunt rodents, mice, and rats. Other items on the menu are fish, reptiles, birds, and insects.

13. Birds Of Idaho – Barred Owl:

These are called Strix varia. They are mostly found on the north side of the state. The main spot of these birds of Idaho is Frank Church River. Thick forest is the perfect habitat for barred owls. They mostly grow up to 21 inches in length. Their wingspan is around 3.5 feet.

Male owls are of 22 ounces while female owls are heavier and weigh 28 ounces. There are just a few items included in their menu like rodents and animals like rabbits, weasels, and opossums. Moreover, they also prey upon insects and small birds.

14. Boreal Owl Of Idaho:

Such Birds of Idaho are also called Aegolius funereus. They live in Idaho throughout the time. But in the southern part of Idaho, you will find only a few of these birds. They inhabit the snow forests on mountains. That is why it is difficult to inf them.

These bored owls are usually small in size. The male owls are of 9.8 inches in length and weigh 4.5 ounces. On the other hand, female bored owls are of 11 inches and weigh around 6.87 ounces. Both have an average wingspan of 20 to 24 inches. They usually hunt on moles, shrews, squirrels, bats, mice and small birds and amphibians.

15. Burrowing Owls:

These owls are also called Athene cunicularia. They are mostly live in the southern part of the state. You will find flocks mainly in Snake river area. These are usually ground dwellers. These birds of Idaho mostly live in burrows. These burrows are built by small mammals like ground squirrels and prairie dogs.

This small bird is of 10 inches and weighs just 6 ounces. They prey on insects and tiny mammals. Burrowing owls run after the prey to capture it.

Conclusion

Thus, you can identify the birds of Idaho especially the raptors. Here we have discussed the detailed description about the eagles, hawks and several owls existing in Idaho state of the USA. This article will help you to find the exact location of the birds in Idaho.

There are a lots of migratory birds that come in specific seasons there. So, you will enjoy the great birding sights there enormously.