Red-tailed Hawk (Red-tail)

The Red-tailed Hawk is a robust, adaptable raptor characterized by broad wings and a short, wide tail. Adults typically feature a rich reddish-brown upper tail which gives them their common name. They are powerful aerial predators, often seen soaring in circles over open fields or perched atop roadside poles looking for small mammals.

Warm reddish-brown to tan background with dark brown transverse bars across the vane, featuring a robust central rachis that matches the pale dorsal surface tones

Tightly interlocked pennaceous structure with well-developed barbicels and hooklets, creating a strong, cohesive vane for flight

Stiff, smooth, and matte finish with high rigidity along the vane to withstand aerodynamic forces during soaring flight

Distinctive reddish-brown or dark brown transverse barring on a pale tan or cream background, robust stout rachis, and broad vane shape typical of Buteo soaring feathers

Inhabits a remarkably diverse range of habitats including deserts, scrublands, urban areas, agricultural fields, grasslands, and coniferous or deciduous forests

Widespread throughout North America, ranging from Alaska and northern Canada down through the United States, Mexico, and into Central America and the Caribbean

Serves as a top avian apex predator, helping to naturally regulate populations of rodents, rabbits, and small mammals while acting as an important ecological health indicator

Swainson's Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and Rough-legged Hawk. Distinguish by subtle differences in bar spacing, background warmth, and exact patterning unique to Buteo wing feathers

Red-tailed Hawks have phenomenal eyesight, capable of spotting a mouse from a height of 100 feet. Their iconic piercing scream is frequently used in Hollywood films to sound like any soaring eagle or hawk, regardless of which bird is actually on screen

Good condition with intact barbs, clean edges, and minimal signs of wear or fading, indicating a relatively fresh molt