Buteos are large birds of prey distinguished by stocky bodies, broad wings and broad, rounded tails. Hawks can also be accipiters, The tails of accipiters are longer and narrower than buteos, their wings shorter and more rounded. Sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper's hawks and Northern Goshawks are accipiters and there is small difference between them. Very often female Cooper's hawks can be mistaken for sharp-shinned hawks, affectionately called sharpies. While buteos can be found soaring high in the sky, their wings fixed in a shallow V, accipiters tend to glide and have more frequent wing beats.
Falcons are longer-winged than buteos and accipiters, and they have tapered tails.
Unlike buteos and accipiters, their wing beats take on a strong, rowing appearance. Falcons include American Kestrels, merlins, prairie falcons, peregrine falcons, and gyrfalcons. Other types of birds are mistaken for hawks. The Northern Harrier, similar in size and shape to an accipiter, is a kite, as is the osprey, a bird of prey that, because of its white belly and head, is often mistaken for a mature bald eagle. Mistaken identity is not surprising.