Red-tailed Hawk

Also known as
Buzzard, buzzard hawk, eastern redtail, hen hawk, mouse hawk, red hawk, redtail, red-tailed buzzard, western redtail
What is the scientific name?
Buteo jamaicensis
Where are they located? How many subspecies are there?
Throughout North America. The Harlan's hawk, a subspecies of red-tail, is found in Alaska and Canada and as far south as Texas. The Krider's hawk, another red-tail subspecies, is found ranging from southern Canada down through Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. There are five to seven subspecies of red-tailed hawk in North America, depending on the source consulted. They are B.j. borealis, B.j. umbrinus, B.j. fuertesi, B.j. alascensis, and B.j. calurus. B.j. calurus which occurs in Oregon, is sometimes listed as including the Krider's hawk and the Harlan's hawk. Other sources list the Harlan's hawk and Krider's hawk as being separate subspecies, B.j. kriderii and B.j. harlani. Still other sources list the Harlan's hawk as being separate species altogether B. harlani (Palmer 1988a; A.O.U. 1957; Terres 1980; Mindell 1983).
Where do they live?
Generally, in woods with nearby open land. Red-tails need places where high-perching sites are available. This criteria is usually met in the following habitats: forests, plains, prairies, groves, and deserts. Red-tails are rarely seen in dense forests (Palmer 1988a; Farrand 1988).
What do they look like?
There are many variations of the red-tailed hawk, but they usually are brown above and white below, with brown streaking and a red tail. Besides the tail, the red-tail hawk is sometimes identified by a dark band across its stomach. The Harlan's hawk is usually completely dark brown with a reddish band on its mostly white tail. The Krider's hawk is identified by its very light color. It also has a reddish band on its tail.
How big are they?
Females are between 20 and 25 inches in length with a wingspread up to 54 inches. Males are between 18 and 23 inches in length with a wingspread up to 45 inches. Females weigh between 2 and 3½ pounds, males between 1½ and 2½ pounds (Palmer 1988a).
How long do they live?
A red-tailed hawk reaching the age of two years is expected to live four to five years longer. Several have been known to live up to 20 years in the wild, the longest being 21 years, 6 months of age (Klimkiewicz and Futcher 1989). One lived in captivity for 29 years (Terres 1980).
How fast can they fly?
Usually between 20 and 40 miles per hour (Broun and Goodwin 1943). One of the highest speeds recorded was 40 miles per hour (Broun and Goodwin 1943), but they are probably capable of flying much faster.
What do they eat?
The red-tail's diet consists of 80% mammals, but it also eats small birds, snakes, and other reptiles. One study conducted over a three-year period found the red-tailed hawk to prey on the following mammalian species, in order of importance: ground squirrels, pocket gophers, cottontails, wood rats, kangaroo rats, chipmunks, rock mice, gray squirrels, brush mice, and meadow mice. Bird species preyed upon include quails, jays, towhees, road-runners, screech owls, kingbirds, and lark sparrows. Reptiles include whiptail lizards, gopher snakes, skinks, rattlesnakes, fence lizards and sharp-nosed snakes (Fitch 1946).

Interesting notes: The cry of the red-tailed hawk is described as a harsh keeer-r-r, slurring downward. This call can be heard in any number of movies and commercials. It seems that anytime Hollywood wants to create a nature-like setting the red-tail's voice is thrown into the background for atmosphere. Some Jay's also do a very good imitation of this sound, so if you hear the keeer-r-r and don't see any red-tails around, look for a Jay.

Although they prefer fresh meat, red-tailed hawks will eat dead animals as long as they haven't been dead too long. As a result of this, red-tails don't compete very much with the foraging habits of the turkey vulture, a bird that often shares the same habitat as the red-tail. If the prey is small enough, the red-tail hawk will swallow it whole, but if the prey is too big it is usually beheaded and eaten in pieces (Palmer 1988a). Red-tails make exceptions however. Once, a rattle snake over two feet long was found in the stomach of a red-tail. Quite a big animal for such a small stomach (Bent 1937). Sometimes swallowing its prey whole can create some problems. One red-tailed hawk choked to death when the skull of a ground squirrel got stuck in its throat (Saylor 1937).

When a red-tail hawk attack's its prey, it strikes simultaneously with both of its feet if the animal is perpendicular to the attack. If the animal is parallel to the attack, the red-tail places one foot just behind the head first, then its other foot further back (Goslow 1971). This works well to control the animal, most of the time. Sometimes, however, the red-tail can get into trouble. One instance is known of a red-tail attacking a rattlesnake, but the snake attacked back, killing the red-tail! (Bent 1937). Another, similar occurrence happened when a red-tail attempted to catch a weasel. The red-tail had grabbed the weasel and was flying to a perch when, in mid flight, the weasel bit the red-tail's neck in "death-grip." This forced the red-tail to the ground where it eventually died (Terres 1980).

Last updated April 16, 2006
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Copyright 2006, by Jim Rible