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hawk

hawk

90 2.3
A bird with sharp eyes, short wings, and a long tail that hunts by day
  • noun
  • /hɔk/
: halcón
  • During the nature hike, we learned that the hawk is known for its impressive hunting skills and keen vision.
  • red-tailed hawk
  • hawks and eagles
  • Harris' hawks

And then there was this hawk flying, just circling me.

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Examples

  • The observations of the color-marked hawks slowly and surely pointed to a pattern.

    Academic text (1990)
  • As I walked through the park, I spotted a hawk perched on a tree branch, scanning the ground for prey.

  • And then I walk over there and it's a hawk with another bird.

  • But you better watch him like a hawk if he comes back again.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The hawk is right there between the chairs, it's huge.

  • And then there was this hawk flying, just circling me.

  • We began monitoring four members of a group of six hawks at approximately 3:05 in the afternoon.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Gophers are plentiful that rainy spring, and a hawk is having a feast.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I stole a look down the length of the mews, where the hawks drowsed on their perches.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The hawk soared high above the fields, using its sharp eyesight to hunt for rodents below.

Synonyms

bird of prey
vshawk
7 3.8

A bird that hunts and eats other animals, like eagles or hawks

is a specific diurnal predatory bird with short rounded wings and long tail
red-tailed hawk
vshawk
  • US
5 5.5

A large North American bird that hunts small animals with a red-brown tail

is the general diurnal raptor with short rounded wings and long tail
kite
vshawk
3 7.4

A medium bird with long pointed wings that eats small animals

is the general diurnal raptor, not this slender long wing form
chicken hawk
vshawk
2 8.2

A hawk that eats or attacks chickens

is the general diurnal raptor label rather than this colloquial poultry term
goshawk
vshawk
1 9.4

A large bird that hunts other animals, with broad wings and a long tail

is the general diurnal raptor, not this falconry associated species
Cooper's hawk
vshawk
  • US
1 7.1

A medium-sized grey North American bird of prey that flies quickly through woods

is the wider diurnal raptor type, not specifically the woodland hunter
sparrowhawk
vshawk
  • UK
1 5.1

A small bird with short wings and a long tail that hunts small birds in woods

is the broader diurnal raptor category, not this small bird hunter
fish eagle
vshawk
1 3.9

A large bird that catches fish and often builds big nests near water

is the broader diurnal raptor type not limited to fish diet
red-shouldered hawk
vshawk
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A medium-sized North American bird of prey with reddish shoulders that lives in woods near water

is the general diurnal raptor without that specific shoulder coloration
fish hawk
vshawk
1 4.9

A large hawk that catches fish, for example an osprey

is the general diurnal raptor, not specifically a fish hunting specialist
harrier
vshawk
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A hawk that hunts small animals over marshes and fields

is the general diurnal raptor, not this open land hunter
sparrow hawk
vshawk
  • UK
1 5.9

A small bird that hunts other small birds and insects

is the general diurnal raptor rather than this small species or falcon
buzzard
vshawk
  • UK
1 7.0

A large bird of prey with broad wings and a short tail found in Europe

is the general diurnal raptor rather than this regional broad wing type
redtail
vshawk
  • US
1 8.1

A large North American hawk with dark brown feathers and a reddish tail that hunts small animals

is the broader diurnal raptor type with keen eyesight and hunting skills
rough-legged hawk
vshawk
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A large Northern hawk with feathered legs that hunts small animals like mice

is the general diurnal raptor, not specifically adapted for cold regions
hen hawk
vshawk
1 9.2

A bird that kills and eats chickens

is the neutral diurnal raptor term rather than a poultry related label
buteonine
vshawk
  • Specialized
9.9

A hawk in the Buteo group that has broad wings and soars

is the general diurnal raptor rather than this soaring wing group
eaglehawk
vshawk
7.8

A large hunting bird with features of both an eagle and a hawk

is the standard diurnal raptor with typical short rounded wings and long tail

Compounds

5 5.5

A large North American bird that hunts small animals with a red-brown tail

2 8.2

A hawk that eats or attacks chickens

2 7.4

A person who strongly supports using the military or going to war

chicken hawk
  • Offensive
1 9.3

A person who supports war but never served in the military

hawk owl
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A grey and white owl that hunts small mammals during the day in northern regions

1 7.1

A medium-sized grey North American bird of prey that flies quickly through woods

hawk moth
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A large night insect with long wings that hovers to drink flower nectar

1 6.7

A nose curved downward like a hawk's beak

ball hawk
  • Slang
1 7.0

A player who often steals or catches the ball from the other team to help their team

red-shouldered hawk
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A medium-sized North American bird of prey with reddish shoulders that lives in woods near water

1 4.9

A large hawk that catches fish, for example an osprey

1 5.9

A small bird that hunts other small birds and insects

1 6.8

A large slender insect with shiny wings that eats mosquitoes

rough-legged hawk
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A large Northern hawk with feathered legs that hunts small animals like mice

marsh hawk
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A bird that nests in marshes and flies low to hunt small animals

1 9.2

A bird that kills and eats chickens

9.3

A North American bird active at night that eats flying insects

8.8

A small hunting bird that catches other birds like pigeons

A large North American hunting bird with black and white feathers and a deeply forked tail

9.5

A long thin insect with bright wings that eats mosquitoes and does not sting

How Large

eagle
147 1.0
hawk
90 2.3
pigeon
124 1.0
sparrow
40 1.0

Surface Forms

hawk singular
hawks plural

Etymology

Hawk (bird) comes from an old English word for a bird of prey that hunts with sharp eyes. That's why hawk today means that strong hunting bird.