Red-tailed Hawk

We frequently see the Red-tailed Hawk hunting in the field across our street and in our back field.

Latin name: Buteo jamaicensis

Length, wingspan: 19″, 49″

What they eat: Carnivorous (primarily rodents, also birds, small mammals, snakes)

Plants that attract: Open fields, tall trees or snags they can perch on

Where they nest: Near the top of tall trees

My observations: Even though the Red-tailed hawk is common, I always enjoy watching them. I’ve seen them hunt gophers and mice in the field at the back of our property and they’re quite the hunters. They will occasionally catch snakes as well. Since they are a large, rather slow-flying hawk, they tend to need an advantage in order to catch birds. That usually comes in the form of a tree snag or other high perch. That way, they can use the height to their advantage and swoop down on some unsuspecting prey. They are also opportunists and don’t mind helping themselves to the occasional chicken. They have a rather piercing call that sounds like they’re shouting. Immature red-tails have brown tail feathers. Mature adults have the red tail feathers that give them their name. We see them year-round in this region.

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