Red-tailed Hawk (Red-tail)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae, Genus: Buteo, Species: Buteo jamaicensis
Family: Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
- Shape
- Symmetrical vane, rounded tip, broad outline with distinct banding and alternating light and dark brown tones.
- Size
- Approximately 5 to 6 inches long, consistent with a large body contour feather or upper covert. Typical adult body feathers range from 4 to 8 inches depending on exact placement.
- Rarity
- Very Common
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Description
The Red-tailed Hawk is a stout, heavy-set raptor with broad wings and a short, wide tail. Adults typically feature a bright brick-red tail contrasting against pale underparts and a dark brown back. Known for soaring in wide circles over open fields, they are iconic symbols of the American wilderness.
Colour & Pattern
Rich chocolate brown terminal and medial bands contrasting with mottled cream, buff, and white base coloration. The rachis is pale cream near the base, darkening to match the brown areas distally.
Barb Structure
Tightly interlocked pennaceous structure near the tip transitioning to a slightly looser plumulaceous base with a small, soft afterfeather. Barbs are intact and well-maintained.
Texture & Surface
Smooth, firm, and matte in appearance with a rigid vane that offers solid wind resistance, characteristic of a high-quality protective contour feather.
Key Features
Distinctive alternating bands of rich chocolate brown and creamy buff, a sturdy pale central rachis, and a broad, rounded symmetrical contour shape.
Habitat
Incredibly adaptable, found in deserts, scrublands, urban areas, deciduous and coniferous forests, agricultural fields, and tropical rain forests from sea level to timberline.
Geographic Range
Widely distributed throughout the Americas, breeding from western Alaska and northern Canada down to Panama and the West Indies, with year-round residency across most of the United States.
Ecological Role
Acts as an apex avian predator helping regulate small mammal populations such as voles, mice, and rabbits, serving as a key indicator of healthy grassland and forest border ecosystems.
Similar Species
Swainson's Hawk and Ferruginous Hawk, which can be distinguished by different barring densities, finer edge patterns, and lighter overall mantle tones.
Interesting Facts
Red-tailed Hawks have incredible eyesight, allowing them to spot a mouse from 100 feet in the air. Their iconic piercing scream is frequently used in Hollywood films to sound like any soaring eagle or hawk.
Condition Notes
Excellent condition with minimal wear, intact barbs, clean shaft, and vibrant pigmentation indicating a freshly molted adult feather.