The Broad-tailed Hawk breeds in North America east of the Rockies from Canada to Texas and almost the entire North American population migrates to Central America and northern South America during the northern winter. There is a sedentary population in southern Florida as well as in most Caribbean islands.

The sub-species shown here is B. p. cubanensis which is endemic to Cuba. The adult is streaky below and looks more like an immature of the nominate sub-species.