Six species of hawks and falcons collected in Florida were examined fo
r helminth parasites from 1971-87. A total of 38 helminth species (15
digeneans, one cestode, 20 nematodes, and two acanthocephalans) was re
covered from the red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus), red-tailed hawk
(Buteo jamaicensis), broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus), sharp-shi
nned hawk (Accipter striatus), Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii), and
American kestrel (Falco sparverius). The red-shouldered hawk harbored
the most species per infected host (($) over bar x = 5.8) while the A
merican kestrel harbored the least (($) over bar x = 1.7). One helmint
h species was classified as a host specialist and 16 species as genera
lists in raptors. Euryphagic host species such as the red-shouldered h
awk and broad-winged hawk harbored more helminth species than more spe
cialized feeders such as the red-tailed hawk and Cooper's hawk. Helmin
ths were not implicated as the cause of death in any of the hosts exam
ined.