This month, let’s learn about the Red-tailed Hawk! You can often see this hawk along a roadside either soaring in the air or perched on telephone poles and fence posts as it hunts for food. The Red-tailed Hawk has a vast range in North America, which includes all across the United States. Most Red-tailed Hawks live in their areas year round. Only those that are in the far northern regions migrate south to warmer habitats for the winter.

What does a Red-tailed Hawk look like?

Red-tailed Hawks have long, broad wings and short, wide tails. A Red-tailed Hawk can be positively identified when flying overhead by the dark line on the top edge of the inner part of its underwing. These darkened lines on the upper wing edges are called patagial markings. No other raptor in our region has this characteristic. Another way to identify a Red-tailed Hawk is when you see its red tail! That makes sense. Actually, the tails of adult Red-tailed Hawks are red on top and whitish below; but the red color shows through the white when they are soaring up in the sky. It’s good to keep in mind that young birds won’t have red tails until they are around two years old! Most Red-tailed Hawks have light-colored abdomens with a streaky darker band that runs across the belly and continues under their wings. Birderwatchers call this the belly band. Red-tailed Hawks usually have dark heads. Their backs, shoulders, and upper wings are a rich brown color and often there are mottled white patches or markings on the back shoulder area. The descriptions of individual Red-tailed Hawks can be quite unique and they vary in color from region to region as well.

Where do Red-tailed Hawks live?

Red-tailed Hawks live in many different habitats. They are frequently seen in open country, agricultural areas, and are seen sailing over homes or developed areas too. Red-tailed Hawks usually require some amount of open space with trees nearby. They build their nests in tall trees, often the tallest tree in a cluster, or on cliff ledges, towers, nest platforms, and occasionally buildings. Both the male and female help with nest building and incubation (keeping eggs warm by sitting on them). After the young hatch, the male usually brings food to the nest and the mother then feeds the brood.

What do Red-tailed Hawks eat?

The Red-tailed Hawk diet is mainly small mammals, like voles, rats, rabbits, and ground squirrels; but they also eat birds and reptiles. Occasionally, they will eat bats, frogs, and toads. The Red-tailed Hawk does most of its hunting from a perch. However, they also may hunt while flying. 

What do Red-tailed Hawks sound like?

The call of the Red-tailed Hawk is a loud, high-pitched, hoarse scream. It will immediately get your attention! Since the call of the Red-tailed Hawk is much more dramatic than that of other raptors, their call is often used in movies and television shows or commercials. Bald Eagles, for example, have much weaker or softer calls. You can listen to the call of a Red-tailed Hawk below.

These calls of the Red-tailed Hawk are from xeno-canto. More Red-tailed Hawk vocalizations can be found at xeno-canto.org/species/Buteo-jamaicensis.