What is "chickenhawk"

n. 1 (context US politics English) A political epithet. A draft-dodger, especially in the Vietnam War, who nonetheless currently supports United States overseas military engagements. 2 A common name for one of three species of bird – the Cooper's hawk, the sharp-shinned hawk and the red-tailed hawk. 3 (context derogatory slang English) A sexual predator – an older, usually more powerful man who preys on adolescent boys for sex.

Chickenhawk (also chicken hawk and chicken-hawk) is a political term used in the United States to describe a person who strongly supports war or other military action (i.e., a war hawk), yet who actively avoids or avoided military service when of age.

The term indicates that the person in question is hypocritical for personally dodging a draft or otherwise shirking their duty to their country during a time of armed conflict while advocating that others do so. Generally, the implication is that chickenhawks lack the moral character to participate in war themselves, preferring to ask others to support, fight and perhaps die in an armed conflict.

Chickenhawk may refer to:

• Chickenhawk (politics), a political epithet
• Chickenhawk (bird), a common name for three species of bird
  • Cooper's hawk
  • Sharp-shinned hawk
  • Red-tailed hawk
• Chickenhawk (gay slang), older males who prefer younger or younger-looking males
  • Chicken Hawk: Men Who Love Boys, a 1994 documentary about NAMBLA
• Chickenhawk (book), by Robert Mason
• Henery Hawk, an animated character from the American Looney Tunes series

In the United States, chickenhawk or chicken hawk is an unofficial designation for three species of North American hawks: the Cooper's hawk which is also called a quail hawk, the sharp-shinned hawk and the red-tailed hawk. The term "chicken hawk", however, is inaccurate. Although Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks may attack other birds, chickens do not make up a significant part of their diet; red-tailed hawks have varied diets, but may opportunistically hunt free-range poultry.

Historically, misinterpretation of the name "chicken hawk" has labelled these birds as pests, hence justifying their slaughter. Officially, per the American Ornithologists' Union's list of bird names, the term has become obsolete as applied to birds, but still enjoys widespread colloquial use in rural areas where any of the three species has been seen as a threat to small outdoor animals kept as pets or livestock, especially chickens.

While the term is still widely used by those who keep such animals, it is too ambiguous to be of any scholarly usefulness, especially since the meaning of hawk differs between America and Europe; thus, the term's propriety (or lack thereof) depends entirely upon context.

The unofficial names of other raptors that are derived from their supposed prey include: duck hawk (peregrine falcon), sparrowhawk, goshawk (northern goshawk), pigeon hawk (merlin), fish hawk (osprey) and quail hawk (Cooper's hawk).

A chickenhawk or chicken hawk is slang used in American and British gay culture to denote older males who prefer younger males for partners, who may less often be called "chickens", i.e., the prey of the chickenhawk. Other variations include chicken queen and chicken plucker.

It is sometimes used as a disparaging vulgarity within the LGBT community, or seen as a slur against people in that community. The label can be applied to a man who seeks partners with the look of someone young, regardless of their target's age.

"Chickenhawk" also indicates a man who uses underage boys for his sexual pleasure. The usage was publicized by members of the controversial group NAMBLA in the 1994 documentary film Chicken Hawk: Men Who Love Boys, although Time magazine reported it in this sense in 1975.

The use and significance of this term have been the subject of academic discussions and popular reports.

Chickenhawk is Robert Mason's narrative of his experiences as a "Huey" UH-1 Iroquois helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. The book chronicles his enlistment, flight training, deployment to and experiences in Vietnam, and his experiences after returning from the war.