Red-tailed Hawk (Red-tail)

The Red-tailed Hawk is a large, stocky raptor with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail that is typically brick-red in adults. They are master soarers, often seen circling high above open fields or perched on roadside utility poles scanning for small mammals.

Distinct alternating white and rich reddish-brown or dark brown transverse bands (barring) across the vane, featuring a pale cream rachis

Pennaceous at the upper tip with tightly interlocked barbicels, transitioning to plumulaceous downy barbs near the base; intact and clean condition

Smooth, firm, and matte texture with rigid pennaceous tips and soft, fluffy downy base

Clean alternating white and dark brown/reddish horizontal barring with a rounded contour shape and pale rachis

Open country, woodlands, deserts, urban areas, scrublands, and agricultural fields

Widespread throughout North America, ranging from Alaska and northern Canada down through Central America and the Caribbean

Apex avian predator playing a vital role in regulating rodent and small mammal populations across diverse ecosystems

Cooper's Hawk or Broad-winged Hawk, distinguished by smaller size and differing bar width and color tones

Red-tailed hawks have exceptional vision, estimated to be about eight times sharper than that of a human, allowing them to spot a mouse from 100 feet in the air

Good condition with intact barbs and no obvious signs of fading or physical damage