Like many raptor species, Red-tailed Hawks engage in spectacular courtship displays. Then the Red-tailed Hawk confidently moves in and enjoys its meal. This is called pirating and involves harassing the prey-carrying individual until it drops or relinquishes its catch. If that weren't enough, these hawks are also known to take food from other spieces.
They might swoop down from a high perch to seize their prey, or snatch a bird in flight, or pursue their prey while flying fast and low. And the list goes on and on!Īs you can imagine, in order to catch such varied prey, Red-tailed Hawks have had to develop and perfect many different hunting techniques. This hawk has been documented eating ground squirrels, rabbits, tree squirrels, bats, quail, other raptors, snakes, lizards and even fish and insects. It feeds on small- to medium-sized mammals, as well as a number of different bird and reptile species. The Red-tailed Hawk uses its fast flight and large, sharp talons to capture a variety of different animal species. Like Barn Owls and Ridgway's Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks consume a lot of rats and mice, which certainly can be beneficial to farmers. Habitat loss, electrocution on powerlines, and collisions at wind farms are other threats to this hawk's survival.
In some parts of its range, this bird is killed because it preys on chickens or is captured and held in poor conditions because people mistakenly think it will make a good pet. However, also like many bird species, this beautiful raptor continues to face many threats. Like many bird species, the Red-tailed Hawk is protected in North America under the Migratory Bird Act. However, if you were to try to sneak up to a perched Red-tailed Hawk, it would certainly fly away before you could get too close. This hawk can be be found perching along power poles or even nesting along noisy freeways in many large U.S. This is because the call of this hawk is often the sound used in Hollywood movies and television shows when almost any bird of prey is shown! Its call is a loud, high-pitched, hoarse, screaming whistle that might sound very familiar to you, even if you have never seen a Red-tailed Hawk and don't live anywhere near one. This large raptor is quite vocal and can often be heard calling as it soars in search of prey. Named for the bright brownish-red feathers on its tail, the Red-tailed Hawk is a common sight in the skies of North America. There is a famous pair living atop a high rise building in New York City! The male of this pair, who has been living close to Central Park since the early 1990s is very light in color and is named Pale Male.Īs with many other bird species, individuals that live in the northern portion of their range migrate south during the winter in search of warmer climes and a more abundant food base. Some individuals have even adapted to living in human-occupied areas. Though they generally don't live in arctic habitats or dense forests, they can be found living in a wide variety of other habitats from open fields to arid deserts, from woody areas and bluffs to mountain, pine and broadleaf forests, and from wetlands to coastal areas. Red-tailed Hawks are found throughout much of Canada and the United States and are also scattered throughout Central America and the West Indies. The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most widely distributed hawks in North America. We also supply literature to researchers from our avian research library, which helps scientists around the world gather and share important information on raptor conservation. Fledglings may remain with parents for several more weeks.Though The Peregrine Fund doesn't work directly with Red-tailed Hawks, our efforts in scientific research, habitat conservation, education, and community development help conserve raptors on a global scale. Young leave the nest about 6-7 weeks after hatching, but not capable of strong flight for another 2 weeks or more. After about 4-5 weeks, food is dropped in nest, and young feed on it themselves. Male brings most food, and female tears it into small pieces to feed to the young. Fledglings may remain with parents for several more weeks.įemale remains with young most of the time during first few weeks.
Young: Female remains with young most of the time during first few weeks. Incubation is by both parents, 28-35 days. Small prey carried to perch, large prey often partly eaten on ground.Ģ-3, sometimes 4, rarely 1-5. Also hunts by flying over fields, watching for prey below. Does most hunting by watching from a high perch, then swooping down to capture prey in its talons.
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