Red-tailed Hawk (Red-tail)

The Red-tailed Hawk is a powerful, robust raptor with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Adults typically feature a distinctive brick-red tail, while juveniles possess brown, barred tails. They are masterful soarers, often seen perching on roadside poles or circling gracefully in thermal updrafts.

Rich dark brown on the upper vane surface with distinct white or pale grayish mottling/edging along the trailing edge, typical of immature or morph variation in Red-tailed Hawk plumage. The underside is paler.

Tightly interlocked pennaceous structure with well-developed barbicels and hooklets providing high strength and rigidity. No visible afterfeather.

Stiff, smooth, and matte with a firm, durable vane structure designed to withstand high wind resistance during soaring and hunting maneuvers.

Rich brown coloration paired with pale frosty barring or edging along the vane margin, a sturdy pale rachis, and the robust asymmetrical build characteristic of Buteo wing feathers.

Extremely adaptable, found in deserts, scrublands, urban areas, mountainous regions, agricultural fields, and deciduous or coniferous forests.

Widespread throughout North America, ranging from Alaska and northern Canada down through the United States, Mexico, and into Central America and the Caribbean.

Apex avian predator playing a crucial role in controlling rodent and small mammal populations, acting as a key indicator of ecosystem health.

Swainson's Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and Rough-legged Hawk. Distinguished primarily by specific barring patterns, size scaling, and exact tones of brown and white contrast.

Red-tailed Hawks have incredible eyesight, capable of spotting a mouse from a height of 100 feet. Their iconic, raspy scream is frequently used in Hollywood films to sound like any soaring eagle or hawk.

Good condition overall with minor wear and slight fraying at the extreme tip, indicating it was naturally molted after a season of use.