Red-tailed Hawk (also known as the Chicken Hawk or Red-tail)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae, Genus: Buteo, Species: Buteo jamaicensis
Family: Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Old World Vultures)
- Shape
- Symmetrical vane with a softly rounded tip; loose, flowing web structure lacking rigid interlock at the margins
- Size
- Approximately 2 to 3 inches in total length, with a fluffy, soft texture typical of insulating body feathers on a medium-to-large raptor
- Rarity
- Very Common (abundant, widespread, and frequently observed soaring along highways and open fields)
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Description
The Red-tailed Hawk is a robust, formidable raptor characterized by its broad wings and short, wide tail. Adults typically feature a rich brick-red tail, while juveniles possess brown-banded tails. They are masterful soarers, often seen circling high above open fields in search of small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
Colour & Pattern
Distinctive warm rufous-orange tip and margins contrasting sharply with dark brown to charcoal-gray base and central areas, revealing the classic red-tail color palette associated with juvenile or morph-specific plumage
Barb Structure
Transitioning structure showing a pennaceous center along the rachis transitioning quickly into plumulaceous (fluffy, down-like) barbs with widely spaced barbicels lacking strong hooklets; notable basal downy tuft
Texture & Surface
Soft, silky, and pliable with a matte finish; lacks the rigid waterproofing or stiffness of a primary flight feather, functioning primarily for warmth
Key Features
Rich rufous-orange coloration combined with dark brown base shading, soft semiplume texture, and compact size diagnostic of a larger raptor's body plumage
Habitat
Incredibly adaptable, found in deserts, scrublands, urban areas, agricultural fields, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, from sea level up to 10,000 feet
Geographic Range
Widespread throughout North America, ranging from western Alaska and northern Canada down through Central America and the Caribbean
Ecological Role
Apex avian predator that helps regulate rodent and small mammal populations, serving as a vital bioindicator of ecosystem health and environmental toxin levels
Similar Species
Swainson's Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and Rough-legged Hawk feathers can appear similar, but can be distinguished by specific barbing patterns, subtle tone differences in the rufous pigment, and geographic context
Interesting Facts
Red-tailed Hawks have exceptional eyesight, capable of spotting a mouse from a height of 100 feet. Their iconic piercing scream is frequently used in Hollywood films to represent any soaring raptor or eagle, regardless of what bird is actually on screen
Condition Notes
Good condition; barbs are largely intact with minor natural fraying at the edges, showing no signs of heavy fading, pest damage, or structural faults