Although the broad-winged hawk's numbers are relatively stable, populations are declining in some parts of its breeding range because of forest fragmentation.

[6] Broad-winged hawks have relatively short and broad wings, pointed at the end, which have a tapered appearance unique to the species.

[2] The light morph of this bird is most likely to be confused with the red-shouldered hawk, which has a longer, more heavily barred tail and wings with a solid rufous color in the adult, which are usually distinctive.

In the winter, the migrating subspecies of the hawks seek out similar conditions to their overwintering home, so they settle in deciduous and mixed forests.

[14] Although it is declining in some areas because of forest fragmentation, its numbers are relatively stable and is assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.

[16] When confronted with a threat, broad-winged hawks emit an alarm call consisting of stuttered and squealing whistles.

[18][19] In the winter, they have been observed feeding on insects (such as grasshoppers, dragonflies, and saturniid moth caterpillars), frogs, lizards, snakes, crabs, earthworms, and small mammals.

[20][21][22] To catch their prey, broad-winged hawks watch from low branches, hiding in the foliage, until a target is spotted.

They give special attention to preparing their food for consumption, skinning frogs and snakes and plucking prey birds' feathers.

These birds have only one mate during the breeding season, possibly because the male also helps a small amount with the rearing of the chicks.

[23] To attract and court females, the males perform a courtship display flight including cartwheels, dives, and other aerial acrobatics.

Once a prey item is obtained for the nest, the female tears off pieces and feeds the chicks until they are able to rip meat off on their own.

[26] Broad-winged hawks protect their nests in a show of aggression (i.e. diving and chasing) towards any suspected threat, but they generally do not make physical contact.