ORDER FALCONIFORMES
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
a. Kak,kak,kak, or kuk,kuk,kuk (P,H); heavier than Cooper's hawk (P).
A long series of short high kaks (R).
Nest-defense call a loud, high-pitched (not raspy) cac cac cac cac (F,L).
b. Also a harsh scream given around the nest site (U).
Adults give high-pitched whine; more often heard in juveniles (their main vocalization) (P. Hall, pers. comm. 1985).
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)
a. About nest, a rapid kek,kek,kek; suggests Flicker (P).
A series of 15-20 kaks (R).
Nest-defense call a harsh, raspy cac cac cac cac (F).
Harsh, staccato ca-ca-ca-ca cackling (H).
Somewhat lower-pitched than goshawk's (P. Hall, pers. comm. 1985).
b. Dozens of additional calls used in specific situations (H).
c. A high-pitched pee-a,pee-a,pee-a (L).
Sharp-Shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
a. A ke-ke-ke-ke, dropping in pitch.
Like Cooper's Hawk, but shriller, a high kik,kik,kik (P,H,L).
As above; with a quality of American Kestrel's (R).
Nest defense call a high, shrill kik kik kik kik (F).
b. Immatures: a shrill wree,wree,wree,wree, each note rising in pitch.
Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
a. An asthmatic squeal keeer-r-r slurred downward (P).
A kee-ahrr, often quite prolonged (U).
A high scream, often imitated by (Steller's) jays (R).
Nest-defense call a raspy, descending tseer; sometimes given at other times when irritated or disturbed (F).
Hoarse, rasping tsee-eeee-arrr scream lasting 2 or 3 seconds (H).
Hoarse, gull-like screaming pee-ar (L).
b. Immatures: a hoarse ree,ree,ree,ree, each note slightly ascending in pitch.
Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
a. A two-syllabled scream kee-yar, dropping inflection (P).
A rapid series of slurred whistles uttered in flight: peeer,peeeer,peer,peer (U).
During courtship, loud, screaming kee yar, dropping in pitch and typically uttered 2-4 times; largely silent at other times (F).
An evenly spaced series of clear, high kee-ah or kah notes (N).
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
a. Melodious series of chewk-chewk-chewk or tchip-tchip-tchip whistles uttered while fishing (H).
A rising series of shrill whistles, given singly and in series, as whew-whew-whew-whi-whi-whi.
b. Ringing kip-kip-kip-kiweeek-kiweeek alarm note (H).
c. Various other notes (H).
FAMILY FALCONIDAE
Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)
a. A yelping kik-kik-kik-kik, etc. (P,H).
A repeated kee,kee,kee (P).
A loud kree-kree-kree, most often heard around the eyrie (U).
A series of short loud notes (R).
Call similar to Peregrine's when alarmed or excited, sharp kik kik kik kik (F).
b. Variety of wails and whining cries during courtship (F).
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Usually silent (P).
a. A rapid, rasping kek,kek,kek,ke-ek, etc. (P,L).
A long series of slurred notes (R).
Hak hak hak hak given repeatedly when excited or alarmed (F).
b. Around eyrie a repeated we-chew (P).
c. Also a wailing note (P).
Rather noisy during breeding season, with a variety of wails and cries (F).
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
a. A rapid high klee klee klee or killy killy killy (P,R,L).
A high-pitched klee klee klee klee, given rapidly in series of 3-6 when bird is excited or alarmed (F,H).
b. During courtship, a variety of whining cries and chitters (F).
c. Some chuck-chuck-chuck calls (H).