Red-Tailed Hawk

Red-Tailed Hawk, common name for the most abundant and familiar hawk in North America. It lives from Alaska and Canada south through Panama and is found in a variety of habitats with open ground and high perches.

The red-tailed hawk measures 48 to 63 cm (19 to 25 in) in length with a wingspread of about 127 cm (about 50 in). The plumage varies greatly between different races from almost black to very pale brown, but all adults have a characteristic reddish-brown tail. Typically, the plumage is brown on the head, back, and wings with light buff underparts. The male and female are similar in appearance except that the female is slightly larger. The juvenile looks similar to adults except that it lacks the red tail. Generally the juvenile takes three years to develop adult plumage. The red-tailed hawk’s cry is a shrieking keeer.

The red-tailed hawk eats small mammals, especially rodents, and also birds, snakes, and large insects. It hunts by gliding over open countryside searching for prey. Once the prey is spotted, the hawk dives to a lower elevation and hovers over it. When the hawk is ready, it folds its wings, drops, and grabs the prey with its sharp talons. It may also watch for prey from a high perch.

During courtship, the male and female soar in high circles while making shrill cries. After the pair have bonded, they build a large bulky nest out of sticks and line it with finer materials. The nest is usually built in the top of a tall tree, up to 37 m (up to 120 ft) above the ground. They take turns incubating, or warming, the two or three whitish eggs by sitting on them for 28 to 35 days. The newly hatched young are fed by both parents and usually leave the nest within 45 days of hatching. Red-tailed hawks have been known to enlist other adult red-tailed hawks to help with the care of the young.

Scientific classification: The red-tailed hawk is a member of the hawk family Accipitridae, in the order Falconiformes, and is classified as Buteo jamaicensis.

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