Red-tailed Hawk
Scientific Classification
The red-tailed hawk is a large bird of prey with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. They vary in colour between subspecies but are typically brown with lighter undersides and a streaked belly. All red-tailed hawks, however, have distinctive rust-red tail feathers. They are 45-65 cm (1.5-2 ft) tall with a 1.1-1.3 m (3.6-4.3 ft) wingspan and can weigh up to 1.5 kg (3.3 lb). Females are slightly larger than males.
Common throughout North America, red-tailed hawks prefer open areas such as woodlands, fields, deserts, and even parks. These open areas suit their hunting style, which involves soaring in wide circles or perching on trees and telephone poles at the edges of clearings. Their range extends from Canada down to Central America and the Caribbean.
As carnivores, red-tailed hawks mostly hunt small rodents like mice, voles, and squirrels. They also prey on small birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, and carrion. Additionally, they are capable of catching larger game, including grouse, pheasants, jackrabbits, and snowshoe hares.
Nests are located high above the ground in stands of hardwood trees and are reused year after year by the same pair of hawks, who mate for life. Pairs work together to build the nest, using large sticks and lining it with finer vegetation. Nests are fixed each year to use again. The female lays a clutch of 2-4 eggs, and both parents take turns incubating the eggs for 28-35 days before they hatch in May. Young are born helpless, and both adults feed them for 42-46 days before they are ready to leave the nest.
