Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Summary 4
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)is a large (19-25 inches) hawk, the Red-tailed Hawk is most easily identified by its dark brown back, pale underparts, and rusty-red tail. Male and female Red-tailed Hawks are similarly plumaged in all seasons; however, like most species of raptors, females are larger than males.
Red-tailed hawks have the most recognizable call because Hollywood uses their call to represent any raptor in the world. You can hear an example here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-tailed_hawk/sounds
Where on campus? 5
Very commonly seen near the Student Center, Gym and Athletic Fields. We appear to have a nesting pair that nests at the football stadium in the stadium lights.
Habitat 5
This species inhabits open woodland, shrubby fields, and urban areas if food is available.
Life HIstory 5
Nesting Monogamous. Mated pairs will build a nest together and often reuse the nest year after year in the crotch of a tree, the side of a tall building or even in stadium lights (as they do on campus). They produce one brood/year and chicks are semialtricial.
Feeding Red-tailed Hawks primarily eat small mammals, including lemmings, mice, and voles, but may eat small birds and reptiles.
Distribution 5
The Red-tailed Hawk breeds from Alaska and northern Canada south through the United States, the West Indies, Mexico, and parts of Central America. (EOL)
Migration 5
In winter, northerly-breeding populations migrate south to the southern half of the U.S.Southerly-breeding populations migrate short distances, if at all (EOL)
Sources and Credits
- (c) sarbhloh, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/29452402@N07/2939911664
- (c) Rhys A., some rights reserved (CC BY), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Buteo_jamaicensis_-near_Philadelphia%2C_Pennsylvania%2C_USA_-eating_rabbit-8_%281%29.jpg
- (c) David Illig, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5055/5563047206_2d95d64e2c_o.jpg
- Adapted by gillian360 from a work by (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22710035
- (c) gillian360, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
