Red-Tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
Habitat:
Found in open areas with scattered elevated perches, fields, woodlands, and scrub desert.
Range:
North and Central America, Caribbean
Activity Cycle:
Diurnal
Features:
The adult has a red-colored tail that may or may not have a black terminal bar. Adults are dark brown on the back and the top of their wings. The underside of the bird is usually light with a dark belly band, and a cinnamon wash on the neck and chest. . Immatures resemble the adults except their tail is brown with dark bars. The red- tail molts in during its second year. The sexes look alike but the females are a bit larger.
Size:
Body length 17-22 inches, Wingspan 3.5-4.5 feet, 1.5 to 3.75 pounds
Social Structure:
Male-female pair, highly territorial. Both sexes will defend their territory from other hawks and birds. They are monogamous and may mate for life.
Life Expectancy:
Up to 21 years in wild, 29 in captivity
Diet:
Small and medium-sized mammals, birds, reptiles
Reproduction:
Nest may be found in tall trees, on cliffs, in cactus, or on man-made structures. The female hawk lays 1 - 5 eggs that are incubated for 28 - 35 days. The male brings the female food while she is incubating the eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs. After the eggs hatch, both parents bring the hatchlings food. The young hawks fledge about 42 days later and are sexually mature at 2 years of age.
Status:
Numbers in wild are stable or increasing, protected by the Migratory Bird Act. The Red-Tailed Hawk is listed with the IUCN as "least concern". The Convention of International Trade lists this species as "Appendix II".
Interesting Facts:
- The eyesight of a hawk is 8 times as powerful as a human’s. They can spot a mouse from a height of 100 ft.
- Sit and wait for food by watching from an elevated perch. They also hover in strong winds.
- The red-tailed hawk is used in movies to represent any eagle or hawk anywhere in the world.
Video:
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