Red-tailed Hawk
Perched on roadsides or forest edges, or soaring high above, the Red-tailed Hawk is a common but always impressive sight for observers across North America. Red-tailed Hawks may be found throughout the continent, from northern Canada and Alaska to central Mexico and parts of Central America. Those in northern regions generally migrate south; others remain resident year-round on their breeding territories. Red-tails generally prefer open areas with tall trees or nearby woodland edges, but may be found in a wide variety of habitat. Fragmentation of forests and growth of trees in formerly treeless grasslands has led to population increases across North America, documented from the 1960s through at least the early 1980s. The species has replaced the Red-shouldered Hawk in much of eastern North America, and Swainson's and Ferruginous hawks in the Great Plains. The Red-tailed Hawk has expanded its range and evidently increased in numbers as a result of forest clearing in eastern North America and tree growth in the Great Plains. The call of Red-tailed Hawks is a familiar raspy "keeeeeer."
Red-tailed Hawk Range Map

The species shows significant variation in plumage across its range. Numerous races and up to 16 subspecies are recognized, but plumage variations within populations and intergrades among adjacent populations cast some uncertainty on these taxonomic classifications.

Red-tailed Hawks locate prey visually from atop high perches overlooking open areas. Upon finding prey, Red-tails glide downward, extend their legs forward, and strike with the talons, usually with one foot just before the other. Prey includes a wide range of small to medium-sized mammals, birds, and reptiles; specific elements of diet vary geographically and seasonally.

Male and female Red-tailed Hawks engage in spectacular aerial displays during courtship. Typically, at first, the male and female both circle slowly at high altitudes. Then the male approaches the female from above, touching or taking hold of her. The birds may lock bills or talons, tumble upside-down, and plummet earthward. The male may also attempt to pass food to the female in midair. Copulation occurs at the end of the courtship flight, when the female alights on a perch and the male spirals down to join her. Red-tailed Hawks are monogamous, and generally maintain their pair bond until the death of one partner.

Red-tails generally nest in tall trees with expansive views of surrounding land and unimpeded access from above. Nests are deep bowl-shaped structures made mostly of sticks, sometimes lined with other plant material; they measure about 2 feet across.

Breeding females generally lay two or three eggs. Newly hatched birds sit limp for hours after hatching, unable to raise their heads. They become active by the second day after hatching, moving their wings and issuing soft peeps. Males provide most of the food for females and hatchlings; the female feeds the young. Young birds leave the nest for the first time about 45 days after hatching.

Description: Red-tailed Hawks are large, broad-winged raptors, often seen perched on trees or poles overlooking open areas or soaring overhead. Length is about 18-24 inches from bill to tail tip, and wingspan is about 50 inches; females are generally about 10 to 20 percent larger than males.

Upperparts of adult Red-tailed Hawks are usually dark brown. Underparts of western red-tails (B. jamaicensis calurus) vary across plumage morphs, from dark brown to tawny; elsewhere in North America, red-tails generally have whitish underparts with a dark band across the belly. For most adults throughout North America, distinctive rufous tails of adults are visible from above and below. Adults have dark irises. Juveniles have whitish tails with faint barring, and yellow irises.

In addition to the belly band and the tail, the clinching features for identifying soaring Red-tailed Hawks are dark marks on the leading edge of the wing ("patagial bars"), next to the shoulders. Red-tails in flight usually show mostly pale primaries and secondaries (broad outer wing feathers) with dark tips. When soaring, red-tails hold their wings just slightly above horizontal.

There are numerous races of Red-tailed Hawk in North America, some of which are recognized as subspecies. Each race and subspecies has its own subtly distinctive visual attributes. Subspecies may interbreed at the edges of their ranges, with resulting intermediate plumages. Distinguishing features of a few notable races are shown below.

B. jamaicensis fuertesi (Fuertes' Red-tailed Hawk): Breeds in southwestern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Adults often have pale tails; band across belly may be faint or absent.

B. jamaicensis harlani (Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk): Breeds in Alaska and on the northern Pacific coast of Canada, and winters in the southern Great Plains. Upperparts are very dark, almost black. Tail is mostly whitish with no rufous, and darker toward the tip. Underparts are usually mostly dark; primaries and secondaries are lighter with dark tips. Rare morphs of Harlan's have mostly white underparts.

B. jamaicensis "kriderii" (Krider's Red-tailed Hawk): Not thought to be a valid subspecies; rare even within its range in the prairie provinces and states. Adults and juveniles mostly white underneath, with faint or absent belly band; tails of adults are very pale rufous.


Visit Shaw Creek Bird Supply and see our selection of Bird Houses, Bird Feeders, Hummingbird Feeders & Heated Bird Baths .

Copyright © 2003 Shaw Creek Bird Supply