Red-tailed hawk | Bird, Description, Types, Classification & Facts

The red-tailed hawk is a bird of prey that lives in North America. Its scientific name is buteo jamaicensis.

What do Red-tailed hawk look like?

Red-tailed hawks are usually brown with a red tail. Its belly is lighter than its back and has a short, curved black bill. Their tail is short and wide, the wings are quite wide and thick. Females are typically 25% larger than males and reach just over 2 feet in length with a wingspan of almost 4 feet. They can weigh up to 3 ½ pounds.

Where do Red-tailed hawks live?

Red-tailed hawks can live in a variety of habitats, from forests to cities. It prefers high places to perch and search for prey such as trees or telephone poles. It is found in most parts of North America, from Alaska to Florida.

Red-tailed hawks mate for life and can often live in the same nesting area for many years. They usually lay 1-3 eggs. The mother spends most of the time with the eggs, but the father will occasionally take over. They raise newly hatched chicks for 6-10 weeks. When the chicks can leave the nest, the parents will teach them to hunt.

What do Red-tailed hawk eat?

Red-tailed hawks are birds of prey, meaning they hunt animals for food. Nearly any small animal will do, but they eat more small mammals than fish, mainly rodents such as mice, chipmunks, and squirrels. They also eat snakes, small birds, and even insects. They mainly hunt by sitting on high poles and then diving quickly to catch prey in their claws. While diving, these birds can reach speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. They have excellent eyesight to see their prey from a distance.

Can Red-tailed hawk be trained?

Is it possible to train a red-tailed hawk? Red-tailed hawks are easy to train and a favorite for falconry. Falconry is when birds of prey are trained to hunt. They fly free and hunt, but then return to their owners. There are many laws in the United States regarding falconry. These include the exact age and time at which a falcon can be brought from the wild for training.

Interesting Facts About Red-tailed Hawks

They are sometimes called chicken hawks, hawks or red hawks.

They emit loud and powerful squeaks often used on television or movies.

The conservation status of the Red-tailed Hawk is less of a risk or of less concern.

Its feathers are considered sacred by some Native American tribes, especially the tail feathers.

The great horned owl is usually a fighter for food and territory in the wild. They have a lifespan of about 20 years.

They cannot move their eyes in their sockets and have to move their heads to look around.

The presence of red-tailed hawks can be helpful in reducing rodent populations.