Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Photo by: Jerry McFarland
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Identification
Perching: Extremely variable. Most light morph adult birds have red tails, white breasts with broken belly bands, and dark, square heads. Juveniles have gray, narrowly banded tails. In the adults and juveniles, folded wings usually make an indistinct "V" against brown or black back. Upright, "blocky" appearance when perched.
Flying: Dark patagial marks on the leading edge of wings, on either side of the head, are only certain identification mark (but some red-tails don't have them). Look also for red or narrowly banded tail and broken belly band. Some birds may be almost entirely white underneath, others almost entirely black.
Nesting Habitat
All Colorado ecosystems from the plains to the high mountains, including urban areas. They prefer open country and mosaics of wetlands, grasslands, and woods. They occasionally nest on cliffs but usually place a bulky stick nest in a tall tree or, occasionally, on a utility pole. They will use the same nest for several years in a row. Their nests are later used by great horned owls, which sometimes prey on red-tailed hawk young.
Nesting Dates
Courtship: March to May
Incubation: late March to late June
Dependent nestlings: late April to late July
Incubation period is 28-32 days, and the young fledge 44-46 days after hatching.
Statewide Distribution and Population
Common throughout Colorado. Populations are increasing near urban areas where this habitat generalist outcompetes other hawks and they appear to be expanding into the eastern plains. Highest nesting densities occur in western valleys and along Front Range urban corridor.
State and Federal Status
Not listed.
Search and Nest Monitoring Protocol
Beginning in mid-April drive a set route, stopping every 500 m to scan all potential nest trees with binoculars. Repeat every two weeks throughout the nesting season. Monitor active nests at two week intervals from a fixed observation point located at least 600 m from the nest.
Recommended Nest Buffer Area
No foot traffic or recreational activity within 600 m of active nests. These hawks will abandon nests if they are disturbed.
Red-Tailed Hawk Subspecies
Red-Tailed Hawk Subspecies
Western Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis calurus)
Adults are usually rangier and darker than the Eastern red-tailed hawk, Adults may show nearly endless variation in coloring and many may combine several characteristics of the three main morphs. Most commonly seen of all subspecies in Colorado region. (Photo: cgates326 - iNaturalist)
Eastern Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis borealis)
This subspecies breeds in the Plains and Eastern US and from the Southern Hudson Bay to Northern Quebec. Wintering migrants may find themselves as far as Colorado, but this subspecies tends to stay on the eastern border extending into the gulf coast.
Identification: Only pale morphs, whiteish ground color with little to no barring, and a dark "necklace" separating the rufous/brown neck from the white breast. (Photo: Adam Sell - iNaturalist)
Krider's Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis kriderii)
During breeding season you'll find this subspecies in Southern Canada and the northern parts of the US (Montana/Wyoming). During winter you'll see them in the Rocky Mountains ranging from Minnesota to Arizona.
Identification: White head, dark facial marking (sometimes forming mustache/ear streaks), mottled brown and white wings, all white underneath - no belly band, base of tail is typically white or Rufous pink color. (Photo: Andrew Cannizzario - iNaturalist)
Harlan's Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis harlani)
This species winters in the Rockies, breeds farther north in the Yukon or Alaska. Breeding habitat is limited to Taiga, referred to also as a boreal forest ecosystem. Extremely sexually dimorphic, meaning females of this species are much lager than the males.
Identification: Tend to have shorter legs due to being in colder weather than western red-tails. The colors of the Harlan's lack the warmer undertones of red or brown and present as nearly black. Tail is typically white with rufous colorations.
Alaska Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis alascensis)
During the breeding season, this subspecies can be found in Southeastern Alaska and near the Vancouver Islands in Canada.
Identification: Overall darker than the average red-tail, back is almost solidly dark brown with no "v" coloration, breast is off-white rufuous and sometimes has brown arrowhead shapes (ex: right) rather than your typical stripes.
Jamaican Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis jamaicensis)
This is the nominal subspecies or the originally described red-tailed hawk. They are also the smallest of all 14 of the subspecies. The characteristics you would typically deem as a "normal" red-tailed hawk will be seen in this species. (Photo: Juan Sangiovanni - iNaturalist)
Florida Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis umbrinus)
Native to Florida and non-migratory.
Identification: It has a darker back, more similar to the dark brown of the Western Red-tailed Hawk. Adults tend to have chestnut to rufous side patches, multiple tail bars and no barring on the "trousers". (Photo: jdlacy - iNaturalist)
Central American Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis costaricensis)
This subspecies is native to Nicaragua and Panama. It is said to be some of the prettiest coloring range in the Red-Tail species.
Identification: Dark brown back color, white breast with contrasting rufous abdominal band which contains black streaks and spots, flanks/sides are deep rufous with no striping. (Photo: nsolano15 - iNaturalist)
Southwestern Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis fuertesi)
Breeds in Northern Chihuahua, Mexico to southern Texas, winters in Arizona and New Mexico.
Identification: Has the dark back of the Western Red-tailed Hawk, combined with the pale underside of the Eastern Red-tailed Hawk. Tail is a relatively pale shade of red. (Photo: Tripp Davenport - iNaturalist)
Tres Marias Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis fumosus)
Native to the Islas Marias off the coast of Baja California.
Identification: Similar to dark morph of western red-tailed hawk but smaller with heavily barred dark thighs. (Photo: Horacio Barcenas - iNaturalist)
Mexican Highlands Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis hadropus)
Native to the mexican highlands, one of the smaller subspecies.
Major difference with this subspecies is the massive feet, which are 10% larger than western red-tails. (Photo: mothito - iNaturalist)
Soccoro Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis socorroensis)
Native to Soccoro Island, 600 miles west off the coast of Mexico. Thought to only be about 20 pairs of this subspecies.
Share many characteristics as the Mexican Highland subspecies, including large feet and duller dark brown color.
Cuban Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis solitudinis)
Native to the Bahamas and Cuba, tends to stay in general area for breeding. Plumage characteristics fall in line with Florida subspecies, but populations are significantly separated. (No photo available)
Kemsiesi Dark Morph Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis kemsiesi)
A dark morph similar in plumage to the Southwestern Red-tailed Hawk. Thighs are more of rufous color with barring, and overall size is significantly smaller than the southwestern subspecies. (no photo available)
Baja California Red-Tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis suttoni)
The unrecognized subspecies. Said to be native to Baja California and similar in coloration to the western red-tail. (no photo available)
References
Bent, A. C. 1937. Life histories of North American birds of prey, part 1. U.S. National Museum Bulletin 167, Washington, D.C.
Houston, C. S., and M. J. Bechard. 1983. Red-tailed Hawk distribution in Saskatchewan. Blue Jay 41: 99-109.
Johnsgard, P. A. 1990. Hawks, eagles, and falcons of North America. Smithsonian Institution press, Washington, D.C.
Kingery, H. E., ed. 1998. Colorado breeding bird atlas. Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership, Denver.
Olendorff, R. R. 1972. The large birds of prey of the Pawnee National Grassland: nesting habits and productivity. USIBP Technical Report 151, Fort Collins.
Wickersham, L.E. 2016. The Second Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas. Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership, Denver.
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