Red-tailed hawk

Physical features

• Red-tailed hawks are one of the largest birds of prey in North America.

• They have broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail.

• Most are rich brown above and pale below, with a streaked belly and a dark bar between the shoulder and the wrist on the underside of the wing.

• Coloration can vary widely. Some of this variation is regional and there are also several recognized morphs.

• They are named for their brownish-red tail feathers. The eastern subspecies typically has a plain red tail with a neat black band near the tip.

• Their wingspan ranges from about 44-52 inches (a little over a meter).

• They weigh between 1½ to 3 pounds (690-1450 grams).

• Females are usually larger than males.

• Instead of a red tail, juveniles have narrow brown and white bars on their tail feathers.

Diet: Omnivore

• Wild – small- to medium-sized mammals (especially rodents and rabbits), reptiles, birds (including other raptors), fish and even insects and fresh carrion

  • • Hunting styles vary. They sometimes use a “sit-and-wait” strategy, and at other times they soar or hover high in the air to spot prey then grab it from a high-speed stoop. They have also been observed “pirating” – taking food from other species by harassing prey-carrying individuals until they drop or relinquish their catch.

• Zoo – mice, chicks, quail, rabbit, rat, beef rib, chicken breast

Reproduction

• Red-tailed hawks are monogamous and will remain with the same mate for many years. They typically only change mates when one member of a pair dies.

• Their courtship ritual involves the male and female flying together in circles, calling back and forth to each other, diving and rolling in synchrony, then locking talons and falling together before splitting apart again.

• In many areas, eggs are laid in mid-late March. In the tropics, eggs may be laid as early as December.

• Each year, they may build a new nest or refurbish one from a previous year. Constructing a new nest takes 4-7 days.

• Both members of the pair help build large nests out of sticks that can be up to six feet tall and three feet wide. They line the nest with pine needles, bark, fresh foliage, and other natural plant materials.

• Preferred nest locations are in tall trees or on cliffs. In urban areas, they often take advantage of building ledges to build their nests on.

• Clutch size is typically 2-3 but can be up to five eggs. The female incubates them for about one months (usually 28-35 days). During this time, the male brings food to feed her.

• Eggs are about 2.2-2.7 inches long and 1.702 inches wide. They’re whitish in color and blotched or speckles with buff, brown, or purple.

• Newly hatched chicks are covered in fluffy white down but grow quickly.

• Chicks fledge around 42-46 days after hatching.

• Parents must diligently protect hatchlings from crows and other birds of prey. They feed and protect chicks until they disperse around four to six months after hatching.

• Young hawks begin breeding when they’re around two to three years told.

Interpretive Information

• While many red-tailed hawks are resident, others migrate relatively short distances.

• Migratory behavior is influenced by weather, particularly snow cover and food supply. Individuals in the northern portion of their range migrate south during the winter.

• Red-tailed hawks compete with great horned owls for nest sites. Each species has been known to kill the young and destroy the eggs of their other while trying to take over a nest site.

• The red-tailed hawk’s call is often used as a substitute for other raptors (especially the bald eagle) in movies and on TV.

• There are up to 16 subspecies of red-tailed hawk, though some ornithologists consider at least one of these to be its own separate species.

• In the United States, red-tailed hawks are often used in the sport of falconry.

Updated November 2024