The most common large hawk in North America, identified by its rust-red tail and piercing scream — the iconic "eagle cry" used in countless movies is actually a red-tail.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The red-tailed hawk is a bird of prey and one of the most common hawks in North America. In the United States, it is one of three species colloquially known as the "chickenhawk". The red-tailed hawk breeds throughout most of the continent, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies. The red-tailed hawk occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, agricultural fields, and urban areas. It is absent in areas of unbroken forest and in the high arctic. It is legally protected in Canada, Mexico, and the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty.
Source: Wikipedia — Red-tailed hawk Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Variable: most have brick-red tails (adults), pale chest, dark belly band. Light, dark, and rufous morphs all common. Juveniles have brown banded tails.
Similar species. Red-shouldered Hawk (smaller, banded tail). Rough-legged Hawk (white at base of tail). Swainson's Hawk (slimmer, dark flight feathers).
Voice. Piercing descending "kee-eeeee-arr" scream — often dubbed over Bald Eagles in movies.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Small mammals (especially voles, squirrels, rabbits), reptiles, birds, carrion. The most versatile raptor diet in North America.
Behavior. Soars on broad wings on thermals. Hunts from a perch or while flying. Pairs form lifelong bonds and reuse stick nests in tall trees, on cliffs, or even on city skyscrapers.
§ Range
Throughout North America from Alaska to Panama
§ Habitat
Open country, scrub deserts, grasslands, agricultural fields, and now interstate highways
§ Threats
Vehicle collisions while feeding on roadkill, rodenticide poisoning, illegal shooting.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the red-tailed hawk is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Avoid second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. Drive carefully past roadkill. Report any shot raptor to USFWS Law Enforcement.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Red-tailed hawk
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Buteo jamaicensis
- IUCN Red List · taxon 22695933
- iNaturalist · taxon 5212
- eBird · rethaw
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Buteo jamaicensis
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab — All About Birds
- HawkWatch International
- The Peregrine Fund
- IUCN Red List 2016
