Red-tailed Hawk (Red-tail)

The Red-tailed Hawk is a large, bulky raptor with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Adults are instantly recognizable by their signature brick-red tail, pale chest with a streaked belly band, and dark patagial marks on the leading edge of the underwing. They are soaring hunters, frequently spotted circling high over open fields or perched atop roadside utility poles scanning for small mammals.

Rich cinnamon-red to rufous coloration across the upper surface, featuring a distinct narrow subterminal black band near the rounded tip, tipped with a pale white or buff margin; the ventral side is paler, showing a muted pinkish-grey cast; the central rachis is pale cream to white.

Tightly interlocked pennaceous structure along most of the vane with strong barbicels, transitioning to a slightly plumulaceous, fluffy base near the calamus; intact and healthy with no visible fraying.

Smooth, firm, and matte in appearance; the vane is stiff and wind-resistant with tight interlocking barbs, showing no powdery bloom or oily residue.

Rich cinnamon-rufous red coloration, a distinct narrow dark subterminal band near the tip, pale terminal fringe, and a robust symmetrical tail feather structure.

Adaptable and versatile, found across a wide range of open country habitats including deserts, scrublands, urban areas, agricultural fields, grasslands, and deciduous or coniferous forests.

Widespread throughout the Americas, breeding from central Alaska and Canada down through all of the United States, Mexico, and into Central America and the West Indies.

As apex avian predators, Red-tailed Hawks play a vital role in regulating rodent and small mammal populations, serving as a key ecological indicator of healthy open-country ecosystems.

Ferruginous Hawk (can have reddish tails but usually paler with more white), Cooper's Hawk (longer, banded tail with multiple dark stripes, much smaller size), and Swainson's Hawk (greyish-brown tail with several dark bands).

Red-tailed Hawks have incredible eyesight, allowing them to spot a mouse from 100 feet in the air. Their soaring cry—a harsh, descending scream—is frequently used in Hollywood films to represent any soaring raptor, regardless of the bird shown.

Excellent condition with minimal wear, clean vane edges, vibrant coloration, and no signs of fading, structural damage, or parasite activity.