Quick answer
The hawk family, Accipitridae, holds more than two hundred species worldwide, including eagles and kites; North America alone has bird-eating accipiters like the Cooper’s hawk and soaring buteos like the red-tailed hawk. Hawk eyesight resolves detail several times more finely than ours, which is the fact behind every watch like a hawk. In autumn, broad-winged hawks leave North America for South America in flocks called kettles, and at Veracruz in Mexico observers count millions of raptors in a season. The older version of this page said hawks fly at 150 miles an hour (a peregrine falcon in a dive does; hawks cruise at 20 to 40) and that seeing one means you are clairvoyant or should take the lead. The table gives what named traditions made of the hawk, next to what the bird is doing, and the note covers the law on feathers, which the old page mentioned correctly. The full bird guide is Bird Sightings and What They Mean: Owls, Crows, Cardinals, Hawks, What Cultures Made of Them, Why the Bird Is There and What to Do.
Hawk symbolism by tradition, and the bird behind it
| Tradition | What it made of the hawk | What the hawk is actually doing |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Egypt | Horus, the sky god, has a falcon’s head; hawks and falcons were embalmed as offerings | Hunting from height; falcons and hawks are different families that share the silhouette |
| Ancient Greece and Rome | Homer calls the hawk Apollo’s swift messenger; Roman augurs read the flight of hawks for the state | Riding warm air currents, which is what augurs were watching |
| Plains nations of North America | Red-tailed hawk feathers are used in regalia and ceremony, with meanings that belong to each nation | A red-tail’s tail feathers are broad, banded and shed one at a time in late summer |
| Japan | The hawk (taka) was an emblem of samurai families and the bird of the noble sport of falconry | Goshawks, the falconer’s hawk, ambush prey through trees at speed |
| Medieval Europe | Hawking was ranked by class: a goshawk for a yeoman, a sparrowhawk for a priest | The same ambush hunting, trained rather than wild |
| Modern English | A hawk is a politician who favours war; to watch like a hawk; hawk-eyed | Watching: a perched hawk can spend hours scanning before one short flight |
| Modern spirituality | A hawk sighting means vision, a message, or a call to lead | A bird on a pole waiting for a vole; the meaning is yours to assign |
Feathers and the law: In the United States the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 makes it illegal to possess the feathers, nests or eggs of hawks and almost all native birds without a permit, even if you found the feather on the ground; enrolled members of federally recognised tribes may obtain permits for religious use. Leave found feathers where they are. Hawks are also poisoned by rat bait through the rodents they eat, so avoid rodenticides. For why you may suddenly be seeing hawks everywhere, see seeing hawks all around you.
Owls, crows, cardinals and hawks in one guide
The hub covers what cultures made of each bird, why the bird is actually there, and what to do when one turns up near you.
This article provides fascinating insight into the symbolism of hawks. I appreciate the emphasis on leadership and mental intelligence.
‘Some believe that a hawk sighting can mean that you are a planner.’ Can someone point me in the direction of these ‘some’ who believe in such superstitions?
The author could have delved deeper into scientific facts about hawks before discussing their spiritual meanings.
The hawk symbolism is intriguing, but it seems like an excessive stretch to say that seeing a hawk means I should focus more. Isn’t that a bit of a cliché?
I’ve always been drawn to hawks, and this article reinforces my belief that they are messengers with a special connection to psychic gifts. Thanks for sharing!
‘If you see a hawk, you should watch them because they might have a message for you.’ What if the message is ‘I’m hungry’ or ‘Look, I can fly really fast!’? Hawks are just birds!
While I appreciate the spiritual interpretation, attributing personal attributes like smartness and caution to seeing a hawk seems unfounded. It’s likely just a bird flying by.