Hawks are birds of prey of the same family as the eagle, kite, and osprey.
They are short winged and swift flying and have sharp claws and a hooked bill. North American hawks that are considered harmful include the sharp shinned hawks, such as Cooper's or chicken hawk and goshawk. Largely beneficial hawks include the American, rough-legged, broad winged, red tailed and red shouldered hawks which eat insects and rodents. Marsh hawks sometimes kill game. The name hawk is applied to some birds of the Falcon family.