Red-tailed Hawk
Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Aves; Order: Accipitriformes; Family: Accipitridae; Genus: Buteo; Species: Buteo jamaicensis
Family: Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
- Shape
- Broad and slightly asymmetrical with a rounded tip. The trailing vane is wider than the leading vane, which is characteristic of flight feathers, but lacks the extreme narrowing (emargination) typical of primary feathers.
- Size
- Estimated 7-9 inches (18-23 cm) in length. This is consistent with the secondary feathers of an adult Buteo jamaicensis.
- Rarity
- Very Common. It is the most widespread and frequently seen large hawk in North America.
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Description
This feather belongs to the Red-tailed Hawk, a bulky raptor with a 4-foot wingspan. While the tail is famously rufous-red in adults, the wing feathers are typically barred with shades of brown, gray, and white. These hawks are often seen soaring in circles or perched on telephone poles scanning for small mammals.
Colour & Pattern
A classic 'banded' pattern. The base is white to pale cream, transitioning into a brownish-gray wash with dark subterminal banding. The tip is a deep chocolate brown to charcoal black. Note the lack of rufous (red), which indicates this is a wing feather, not a tail feather.
Barb Structure
The distal portion is strictly pennaceous with tightly interlocking barbs for aerodynamic surface integrity. The base shows plumulaceous (downy) barbs for insulation. Barbules are well-maintained with visible hooklets.
Texture & Surface
Smooth and glossy on the dorsal surface, with a slightly matte, silken texture on the ventral side. The leading edge is stiff to resist air pressure during flight.
Key Features
Wide, rounded vane; dark subterminal bands; stark transition from white downy base to dark tip; sturdy, dark-pigmented rachis near the apex.
Habitat
Extremely versatile: open grasslands, agricultural fields, broken woodlands, desert scrub, and urban areas with high perches.
Geographic Range
Ubiquitous across North America, from central Alaska and Canada south through Mexico and Central America to Panama.
Ecological Role
Apex predator primarily feeding on rodents (voles, mice, ground squirrels), helping to regulate pest populations. They are key indicators of ecosystem health.
Similar Species
Red-shouldered Hawk (smaller, more frequent/tighter banding), Ferruginous Hawk (typically whiter on the underside), and various dark-morph Buteo species.
Interesting Facts
The 'screech' sound used in Hollywood movies for almost every eagle or hawk is actually the recorded call of a Red-tailed Hawk. Real Bald Eagles have much chirpier, less 'majestic' voices.
Condition Notes
Good condition. There is slight fraying at the very tip (consistent with aerodynamic wear) and common separation of the barbs near the base (plumulaceous region). No visible fault bars.