Small hawks are a group of birds of prey that are typically smaller than other species of hawks. The term small hawk can refer to three different species of birds: the KITE, elanet, and KESTREL. The KITE is a medium-sized bird of prey with long wings and a forked tail. The elanet is a small, slender hawk found in North America. The KESTREL is a small falcon found throughout the world. All three species of small hawks have long, pointed wings and feed on small animals such as rodents and insects.