Red-tailed Hawk (also known as the Buzzard or Chicken Hawk)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae, Genus: Buteo, Species: B. jamaicensis
Family: Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Old World Vultures)
- Shape
- Symmetrical to slightly asymmetrical vane with a rounded tip, broad outline, typical of a broad-winged soaring raptor
- Size
- Approximately 6 to 8 inches long, consistent with a medium-sized body contour or secondary flight feather from a large Buteo hawk
- Rarity
- Very Common, one of the most frequently observed and abundant hawks across North America
Found a feather like this?
Identify any feather from a photo, free.
Description
The Red-tailed Hawk is a powerful and robust raptor with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail that is typically brick-red in adults. Females are notably larger than males. They are master soarers, often seen circling high in the sky or perched on roadside telephone poles scanning the ground for prey.
Colour & Pattern
Striking pattern of bold, dark brown and blackish transverse bars and mottling against a creamy white or pale buff background, with a prominent white tip and a sturdy white rachis at the base
Barb Structure
Pennaceous vane in the upper portion with tightly interlocked barbicels, transitioning into a plumulaceous (fluffy) semiplume base with loose, uncoupled barbs for insulation
Texture & Surface
Smooth and firm along the pennaceous upper vane for aerodynamic efficiency, transitioning to a soft, silky, downy texture at the base for thermal regulation
Key Features
Distinctive horizontal brown-and-white barring and banding pattern, rounded tip, sturdy white rachis, and fluffy semiplume down at the proximal end
Habitat
Incredibly adaptable, found in a vast array of habitats including deserts, grasslands, scrublands, coniferous and deciduous forests, agricultural fields, and urban areas
Geographic Range
Widespread throughout North America, ranging from Alaska and northern Canada down through Central America and the Caribbean, remaining year-round in most of its range
Ecological Role
Acts as an apex avian predator helping to regulate rodent and small mammal populations, serving as a key indicator species for ecosystem health
Similar Species
Swainson's Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and Rough-legged Hawk; distinguished by specific band widths, background coloration, and geographic distribution
Interesting Facts
Red-tailed Hawks have incredible eyesight, allowing them to spot a mouse from 100 feet in the air. Their famous piercing scream is frequently used in Hollywood films to sound like any soaring eagle or hawk, regardless of what bird is actually on screen.
Condition Notes
Good condition with intact barbs, clean shaft, minimal fraying at the edges, and vibrant, unfaded pigmentation showing no obvious signs of parasite damage or severe wear