Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae)

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

AccipitriformesLarge (56 cm, wingspan 120 cm)

Appearance

Broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Adults show a distinctive brick-red upper tail visible in flight. Dark belly band across a pale underside. Wide variation in plumage across subspecies.

Habitat

Open country: fields, meadows, roadsides, desert edges, and broken woodland. Frequently perches on telephone poles and fence posts along highways.

Behaviour

Soars on thermals with wings held flat in a slight dihedral. Classic high scream used in countless film and TV productions — even when showing other hawk species. Hunts rodents, rabbits, and occasionally snakes by stooping from a perch.

Seasonality

Year-round resident in most of range; northern birds move south in winter. One of the most commonly observed large raptors in North America.

Range

Throughout North America from Alaska to Panama. Among the most widespread hawks on the continent.

Field note

"The piercing scream associated with the bald eagle in movies is almost always actually a Red-tailed Hawk — the eagle's real call is considered too thin and unimpressive."

Spotted a Red-tailed Hawk?

Log it to your private life list with date, location, and notes.

Log this sighting →

← Previous

Black-capped Chickadee

Mallard