It’s fairly easy to find predator birds throughout Wyoming. In this article I’ll be going over 11 unique birds of prey that consider the state of Wyoming home so continue reading to learn more about them.

• Red Tailed Hawk
• Bald Eagle
• Great Horned Owl
• Snowy Owl
• Golden Eagle
• Turkey Vulture
• Peregrine Falcon
• Osprey
• Western Screech Owl
• Rough Legged Buzzard
• Cooper’s Hawk

11 Birds Of Prey In Wyoming

1. Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo Jamaicensis)

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

Red tailed hawks are year round residents all across the state of Wyoming therefore, you’ll be able to spot them there 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.

2. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucocephalus)

• Size: 90 – 108cm
• Weight: 3 – 6.3kg
• Wingspan: 180 – 250cm

Blad eagles can be found in most of Wyoming throughout their fall and winter non-breeding season. They can also be found in north west Wyoming and some southern parts of the state year round.

A bald eagle’s plumage consists of dark brown around its wing and body, with white feathers on its tail and head along with the trademark yellow beak and feet. Both male and female bald eagles look relatively the same.

As for where you can find these eagles, it will often be around lakes and reservoirs with lots of fish and surrounding forests. You’ll often find them around unfrozen lakes and hunting along coastlines, reservoirs, and rivers during the winter months

These eagles are birds of prey meaning they hunt other birds, medium sized mammals like rabbits, hares, other animals like reptiles, fish and even eat carrion when their options are limited. Sometimes bald eagles are recognised as fish eagles as their diet consists of fish and as meat is the only thing they eat these eagles would ultimately be regarded as carnivores too.

Blad eagles can live for around 20 years in the wild.

3. 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 Wyoming on a year round basis.

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 immediatley.

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.

4. Snowy Owl (Bubo Scandiacus)

• Size: 52 – 71cm
• Weight: 1.1 – 2kg
• Wingspan: 125 – 164cm

Snowy owls can be found in Wyoming in their non-breeding months. This typically includes the fall and winter months. 

These owls are recognised by their mostly white plumage with brown dots throughout the body. Females on the other hand are generally less white than the males as the brown spots encompass more of their body.

Snowy owls tend to spend their time within arctic tundra or open grasslands and fields, whilst avoiding forested areas. 

As for what they eat, it includes lemmings and a variety of small mammals. Nevertheless, they will still occasionally eat larger mammals like like hares, rats, rabbits, etc.

Snowy owls have been observed to live for around 28 years in captivity and between 10+ years in the wild.

5. Golden Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos)

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

Golden eagles can be found all across Wyoming year round.

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.

6. 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 southwest Arizona year round but, they will stay in the remainder of the state throughout 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.

7. Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregrinus)

• Size: 38 – 48cm
• Weight: 600 – 1300 grams
• Wingspan: 95 – 110cm

You’ll find peregrine falcons in western Wyoming when breeding whilst the other half of the state will be used as a migratory passage for these falcons.

Peregrine falcons are recognised by their black head, back and wings, yellow and black beak, yellow feet and a patterned back and white plumage on the belly. Females are once again the bigger of the two with males roughly 33% smaller.

Peregrines live in a variety of unique terrains such as deserts, seashore, mangroves, wetlands, tundra, grasslands, dry forests, scrubland, and craggy mountains. 

As for what peregrine falcons eat, it is mostly other smaller birds like pigeons, ducks, shorebirds, other smaller mammals and in the rare occasion carrion.

Peregrine falcons are known to live around 5 – 6 years in the wild and upto 16 years in captivity.

8. Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus)

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

Ospreys tend to use the northwest region of Wyoming as a breeding residence whereas the remainder of the state is used as a passage to migrate through. 

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.

9. Western Screech Owl (Megascops Kennicottii)

• Size: 19 – 26cm
• Weight: 160 – 180 grams
• Wingspan: 55 – 62cm

Western screech owls can be found in the western region of Wyoming all throughout the year.

These owls are can be pictured in few set color, whether it being in the gray side or brown, they have triangular shaped horned like ears and large yellow eyes. You can tell males and females apart looking certain parts of their plumage, where females have a darker gray/brown back feathers where as males tend to be pale buff or white in color.

You’ll often find western screech owls around Wooded canyons, desert mesquites, farm groves and shade trees.

As for what they eat, it would typically include insects like spiders, scorpions, centipedes and many small mammals, such as mice, voles, pocket gophers. 

In regards to lifespan, western screech owls are known to live for around 13 years in the wild and upto 19 years in captivity.

10. Rough Legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus)

• Size: 46 – 59cm
• Weight: 0.6 – 1.3kg
• Wingspan: 120 – 150cm

Rough legged buzzards can be found in most of Arizona throughout their non-breeding fall and winter months.

These buzzards are recognised by their brown and white plumage where their wings are brown, their neck and head black and the underside of their belly and wings with elements of brown but, mostly white in color. Females are generally just the larger of the 2.

You’ll often find rough legged buzzards around bogs and mountainous heathland areas, or in clearings in coniferous woodlands.

As for what these buzzards eat, it includes birds, reptiles, amphibians, larger insects among other smaller rodents and mammals.

These hawks can live for around 19 years in the wild.

11. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter Cooperii)

• Size: 35 – 51cm
• Weight: 400 – 700 grams
• Wingspan: 73 – 94cm

You’ll find cooper’s hawks in northern Wyoming throughout their spring and summer breeding season. As for the remainder of the state they will stick around year round.

Cooper’s hawks are recognised by their gray back and upper head with a orange and white patterned breast, legs and underside of the wing. The females and males look very much the same but, the females are around 30% larger than the opposite gender.

You’ll often find a cooper’s hawk around pines, oaks, Douglas-firs, beeches, spruces, and other tree species, often on flat ground rather than hillsides, and in dense woods.

As for what they eat, it includes mainly medium-sized birds including robins, jays, flickers, among other smaller and even larger birds. Small mammals like chipmunks, tree squirrels, ground squirrels, mice, bats, etc. are included in their diet too.

Cooper’s hawks tend to live for around 10 – 12 years on average whilst the oldest recorded hawk surpassed the 20 year mark.