Red-Tailed Hawk

ANIMAL:
Red-Tailed Hawk           Buteo jamaicensis

Type of Animal:
Hawk

Habitat:
Desert, grassland, open & closed forest/woodland, agricultural fields, urban/suburban areas, coastal regions, mountains, foothills, rainforest, fields interspersed w/ forest/woodland, scrubland, roadsides, parks, savanna, riparian areas, scrub forest, forest/woodland edge, plains, tundra, swampland, prairie groves, open country

Location(s):
S. Alaska, most of Yukon, W. & S. Northwest Territories, most of S. Canada, all continental states, Mexico, West Indies, & much of C. America

Appearance:
Characteristic red tail, often brown or reddish in coloration w/ white belly, birds out west have streakier underbelly, some hawks in Great Plains have pinker tail, northernmost hawks very dark, broad rounded wings, female larger than male.

Food/Diet:
Voles, mice, rats, tree & ground squirrels, rabbits, hares, pikas, pheasants, poultry, bobwhite, songbirds, pigeons, ducks, geese, young swans, turkeys (young animals & hens), young pelicans, carrion, lizards, snakes, earthworms, insects, crustaceans, quail, corvids, shrews, bats, gophers, chipmunks, other raptors, moles, opossums, skunks, otters, domestic cats, small dogs/puppies, muskrats, fish, fox kits, weasels, turtles, tortoises, piglets, goat kids, young cranes

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Not applicable

Lifestyle:
Solitary or monogamous pairs

Additional Info:

Called:
Male-Tiercel
Female-Hen
Young-Eyas
Group-Pair

Weight:
Male-1.52-2.87 lbs
Female-2-4.4 lbs

Gestation:
1 month 

Life Span:
20-25 years

Height:
Male-1.475-1.83 ft
Female-1.64-2.13 ft

Body Length:
Male-1.475-1.83 ft
Female-1.64-2.13 ft

Main predators of adults are great horned owls, eagles, & foxes. Raccoons & corvids prey on young.

They usually breed in Spring, laying 1-5 eggs.

Young hawks leave parents at around 4 months old.

They are active during the day (diurnal).

Territories range from 1-4 square kilometers.

Sexually mature at around 2 years old.

They have a 3.5-4 ft wingspan.

Fun Fact(s):
Pairs very nest defensive, sometimes attacking people & dogs that come too close.

They’re very common in falconry.

They can spot prey from 100 feet up in the air.

Since they sometimes eat chickens, they’re often called “chicken hawks.”

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