In this article I’ll be going over 7 unique big birds that consider West Virginia a place of residence so, continue reading for a more detailed look at each bird below.

• Turkey Vulture 
• Great Horned Owl 
• Tundra Swan 
• Golden Eagle 
• Red Tailed Hawk 
• Osprey 
• Northern Goshawk 

7 Big Birds In West Virginia

1. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes Aura)

• Size: 62 – 81cm
• Weight: 1.5 – 2 kg
• Wingspan: 1.6 – 1.8m

You’ll be able to find turkey vultures in West Virginia in their breeding season. 

Turkey vultures have a plumage that is mostly brownish/black in color with silver/gray lining on the underside of their wings adding a contrast to their overall appearance. The face is pink/red with elements of black on the head topped of with a pale white beak.

These scavengers are mono-morphic so they do look the same with the only differentiating aspect being their sexual organs.

Turkey vultures are scattered throughout north America where they can be found staying within open and forested habitats where they will also stay within lower elevation mountain ranges.

Carrion is a turkey vultures primary food source but, they do also eat dead reptiles, birds, amphibians and invertebrates. As a whole these vultures do prefer fresher carrion but, like other vultures they can consume the same carcass over several days.

Turkey vultures are known to live for around 16 years in the wild and up to 30 years in captivity.

2. Great Horned Owl (Bubo Vrginianus)

• Size: 57 – 63cm
• Weight: 1.4 – 1.5kg
• Wingspan: 1.35 – 1.5m

Great horned owls can be found all across West Virginia on a year round basis which spans from spring till winter.

These large horned owls are recognised by their brown/gray plumage with their defining feature being the tuft of feather on the top of their head resembling a horn or ear like feature. Male and female great horned owls look relatively the same with the females slightly larger in size.

At night these birds will perch on a branch or a tall building to look around for prey and once the desired prey has been found they will fly towards it with folded wings, grab the prey with their talons piercing through their body and in most cases killing  them immediately.

As for what these birds eat it includes smaller prey like rodents, frogs or scorpions. Even other larger predators like geese, ducks, hawks, and smaller owls can be eaten by these carnivorous birds.

Great horned owls are most commonly found in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities and they can also be found in semi-open habitats between the Arctic and the tropics.

As for a great horned owls lifespan, it can be anywhere from 15 -25 years.

3. Tundra Swan (Cygnus Columbianus)

• Size: 120  – 147cm
• Weight: 3.8 – 10.5kg
• Wingspan: 160 – 175cm

Tundra swans can be found in the northern and central regions of West Virginia when migrating through the state.

These swans are recognised by their entirely white plumage, with black and yellow beaks. Male and female tundras look the same but, the bills of males will swell up in breeding season unlike the females.

You’ll often find these swans around near the coast. During migration and through the winter, they inhabit shallow lakes, slow-moving rivers, flooded fields, and coastal estuaries.

As tundra swans are herbivores, they will primarily eat roots, stems and leaves of aquatic vegetation, such as mannagrass, pondweeds, and even algae.

The average lifespan for these birds is around 10 years although this lower number is due to the various diseases these swans to suffer from. If a tundra swan is in good health throughout their lives, staying alive for 20 – 24 years isn’t too far off from what’s possible.

4. Golden Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos)

• Size: 70 – 82cm
• Weight: 3.7 – 5.3kg
• Wingspan: 190 – 212cm

Golden eagles can be found across the majority of West Virginia in the fall and winter months when they aren’t breeding.

These eagles are recognised by their mostly light brown and dark brown plumage, yellow feet and black downwards pointing beak. Females once again are the larger of the 2 birds where males are roughly 33% smaller in size.

These eagles spend the majority of their time within open moorlands and mountains within the likes of Scotland, and many areas within north America

Golden eagles do eat carrion but, it isn’t their first choice of food when hunting for prey. If they do find a dead carcass they will eat it, with their general food choices consisting of smaller mammals, birds and sometimes larger prey.

These eagles are known to live for around 14 years in the wild whilst captive are even able stay alive till their early 30’s with the longest observed at 32 years old.

5. Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo Jamaicensis)

• Size: 45 – 60cm
• Weight: 1.25 – 1.47kg
• Wingspan: 100 – 150cm

Red tailed hawks can be found all across West Virginia on a year round basis.

These hawks are recognised by their brown torso and wings, white breast and red tails. The main difference between the male and females is that the females are a third larger than the males.

These red tailed avians spend their time at a variety of places within the state including deserts, grasslands, forests, agricultural fields and urban areas.

Red tailed hawks are carnivorous birds of prey where they feed on small mammals, rodents, other smaller birds, fish and even carrion.

In the wild red tailed hawks are known to live between 15 – 20 years whilst captive red tails can live on the upper end of that spectrum around 20 years.

6. Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus)

• Size: 50 – 65cm
• Weight: 1 – 1.5kg
• Wingspan: 170 – 185cm

Ospreys can be found in the eastern parts of West Virginia when breeding and in the remainder of the state when they migrate through it. 

Ospreys are recognised by their brown wings and back, white neck and belly with hints of brown around the neck, with a black beak and yellow eyes. The male and females are very similar in appearance although the females are roughly 20% larger.

Ospreys can be found around large watercourses such as rivers, lakes or coastal areas. 

As for what they eat, it includes mostly fish from medium-sized fish such as salmon, trout, flounder and mullet, along with the odd smaller ones too.

These big birds have been observed to live for around 15 – 20 years on average with the longest recorded age being 32 years.

7. Northern Goshawk (Accipiter Gentilis)

• Size: 55 – 61cm
• Weight: 0.63 – 1.4kg
• Wingspan: 105 – 115cm

Northern goshawks are non-breeding fall and winter residents in the northern regions of West Virginia. 

These hawks are recognised by their moslty gray and white plumage with a horizontal zebra like gray pattern across their belly and breasts. The females are generally a more brown color and are also bigger in size.

You’ll often spot northern goshawks around deciduous and coniferous forests.

They’ll generally feed on smalller rodents, mammals and birds like snowshoe hare, rabbit, gray and red squirrels, chipmunks, weasels, ducks, grouse, quail, pheasants, crows, small hawks, owls, woodpeckers, blackbirds, blue jays, grasshoppers, as well as insects like moth and beetle larvae.

Northern goshawks are known to live for around 7 years on average, with the longest living ones achieving a lifespan of 19 years.