Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Gallery

3 photos available

Geographic Distribution

Quick Facts

Size
45 - 65 cm
Weight
900 - 1600 g
Diet
Small mammals (rodents, rabbits, hares), Reptiles (snakes, lizards), Birds (songbirds, game birds), Insects (grasshoppers, crickets)

Habitat

Open habitatsSemi-open habitatsDesertsGrasslandsAgricultural areas

Behavior

  • Hunts from perches or while soaring, using acute vision
  • Perches on trees, power poles, or fences, scanning for prey
  • Engages in social behavior, often found in pairs or small family groups
  • Breeds in trees or on cliff faces, with females laying 2-4 eggs
  • Both parents care for young, which leave the nest after approximately 40-50 days