Larger structural size is typically viewed as a positive individual trait assumed to benefit survival chances and overall fitness. For territorial species, increased structural size relative to conspecifics could aid with obtaining a territory, finding a mate, and territorial defense. We explore this dynamic in a hemispheric migrant, Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni), which exhibits strong breeding and natal philopatry. Previous research from the Butte Valley breeding population has shown that average natal dispersal was 9 km in the mid-1990s, and has remained constant, despite the population doubling. From 2009 to 2018, over 800 individual Swainson’s hawks were marked as nestlings; of those, 111 (55 females, 56 males) were later observed breeding within the boundaries of our long-term study area. From previous work we know nestlings that are recruited into the local population are structurally larger than those never resighted. . We also know that females will disperse farther than males. Given these population observations, we hypothesize that nestling structural size influences natal dispersal distance, age of recruitment, and quality of territory obtained. We predict that relatively smaller recruits will have larger natal dispersal distances, recruit at older ages, and be relegated to less productive territories.