![]() Nests are made of sticks and twigs, and are about 30 inches wide and 4 or 5 inches deep. Nest construction begins in late winter or early spring. This species requires tall structures on which to perch, search for prey and construct nests. Red-tailed hawks are found in a wide range of habitats - forests, deserts, prairies and even urban areas. The tail feathers in juveniles are brown with narrow dark bands. Immature redtails do not begin developing their adult plumage (such as the red tail feathers) until their second year. In spite of their large body size, adult redtails weigh only 3 or 4 pounds at most. Adults reach lengths of more than 18 inches, with a wingspan of up to 4-1/2 feet, making them one of the largest raptors in North America. ![]() Like most birds of prey (or raptors), females are about 25 percent larger than males. Male and female redtails are indistinguishable based on their plumage. A light-colored subspecies called Krider’s hawk, with a white head and tail, inhabits the Great Plains, while a dark subspecies known as Harlan’s hawk lives in Alaska and northwestern Canada, and has uniformly dark body plumage and tail feathers that may vary from gray to red. In North America, the three most notable subspecies include the Eastern red-tailed hawk, which typically displays the brick-red tail feathers, dark head and back, and white underneath with a band of dark feathers across the upper belly. They are most commonly considered “chicken hawks.” Redtails are one of the most variable hawk species in the Western Hemisphere, with 14 described subspecies - six found in Alaska, Canada and the continental United States, and eight that are native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Islands. Red-tailed hawks, or redtails, get their name from the red tail feathers found on most adult birds. The accipiters are mostly inhabitants of the forests, where they feed primarily on birds. The other major group is called accipiters (Latin for hawk), which are smaller and faster than the buteos, having more rounded wings and long rudderlike tails that allow them to maneuver between trees. These hawks primarily feed on small and medium-sized mammals and reptiles, although if the opportunity arises, they also will prey on birds, bats and insects. They are commonly found along woodland edges and in open fields. Red-tailed hawks ( Buteo jamaicensis) belong to the buteos group (Latin for a type of hawk or falcon), which are large hawks with broad wings designed for soaring. Of all the birds of prey in North America, there are few more widespread or familiar than the red-tailed hawk. ![]() We have even trained some of them to hunt for us. We admire their gracefulness in flight and their skill as hunters. Humans have been fascinated with birds of prey - eagles, hawks, falcons, owls - for thousands of years. Discover the habitat, hunting behavior, status, and conservation of red-tailed hawk birds commonly found perched on tall structures. ![]()
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