Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis

Description

• White breast, dark brown back, with a rust colored tail
• Immatures are more streaked and lack the rust colored tails
• 14 sub-species, each of which is more or less specific to a geographical area, and differs from the others in size, markings etc.

Size

• Length: 18-25" (46-63 cm)
• Wingspan: 48" (1.2 m)

Range

• Plains, farmland, deserts, and open woodland
• Throughout North America to the northern limit of the tree line in Alaska and Canada, and south as far as the mountains of Panama

Diet

• Mostly small and medium sized rodents
• But very opportunistic and can be found feeding on whatever is the most abundant and easiest prey to attain.

Voice

• High pitched descending scream- "Kee-yrrr Kee-yrrr"
• Young also beg for food with a - "klee-uk klee-uk klee-uk"

Nesting

• Stick nest line with bark and green vegetation
• 15-70 ft. above ground level
• Lay 2-3 brown spotted eggs
• Eggs incubate for 28-32 days
• Fledgelings leave the nest at 45 days after hatching

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