Red-tailed Hawk Images, Facts and Information:
Buteo jamaicensis
- Red-tailed Hawks can be found in every state in the U.S. except Hawaii and throughout most of Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
- They are hawks of open country, fields, deserts, mixed woodlands, grasslands, roadsides, pastures, range and agricultural areas and will perch and nest on man-made as well as natural objects.
- Northern Red-tailed Hawks including the Harlan’s subspecies are migratory while other Red-tailed Hawks are year round residents. Hawks that breed high in mountain ranges often descend to lower elevations over the winter.
- Red-tailed hawks are monogamous and may mate for life.
- Mated pairs will also hunt together.
- They lay 1 to 5 eggs which hatch in about 30 days. Both sexes incubate the eggs.
- Courting Red-tailed Hawks put on an aerial display that both sexes participate in.
- Red-tailed Hawks are known to have extremely variable plumage, some of that variability is due to geographical regions the Red-tailed Hawks are found in and some variation is because there are light, intermediate, and dark morphs including Harlan’s Hawks which are darker overall.
- Their diet includes small mammals including rabbits, jackrabbits, hares, mice, voles, ground squirrels, and rats. They will also consume upland game birds, passerines, lizards, snakes and carrion.
- A group of hawks can be called a “tower”, “knot”, “spiraling”, “stream” or “kettle” of hawks.
- Red-tailed Hawks used to be called Chicken Hawks.
- Red-tailed Hawks can live beyond 21 years
I hope that you enjoy viewing my Red-tailed Hawk photos.
Pair of Red-tailed Hawks mating on lichen covered rocks
Title: Pair of Red-tailed Hawks mating on lichen covered rocks
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/29/2017
Red-tailed Hawks copulating
Title: Red-tailed Hawks copulating
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/29/2017
Red-tailed Hawks mating on a rocky outcropping
Title: Red-tailed Hawks mating on a rocky outcropping
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/29/2017
Male Red-tailed Hawk calling while mating
Title: Male Red-tailed Hawk calling while mating
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/29/2017
Mating Red-tailed Hawks in Box Elder County
Title: Mating Red-tailed Hawks in Box Elder County
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/29/2017
Male Red-tailed Hawk mounting the female
Title: Male Red-tailed Hawk mounting the female
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/29/2017
Male Red-tailed Hawk about to mount the female
Title: Male Red-tailed Hawk about to mount the female
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/29/2017
Male Red-tailed Hawk flying towards the female
Title: Male Red-tailed Hawk flying towards the female
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/29/2017
Female Red-tailed Hawk leaving the nest
Title: Female Red-tailed Hawk leaving the nest
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/29/2017
Red-tailed Hawk carrying nesting material in a fog
Title: Red-tailed Hawk carrying nesting material in a fog
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/26/2017
Red-tailed Hawk adult perched in fog
Title: Red-tailed Hawk adult perched in fog
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/26/2017
Red-tailed Hawk about to lift off in a fog
Title: Red-tailed Hawk about to lift off in a fog
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/26/2017
Red-tailed Hawk perched on a bent post in a fog
Title: Red-tailed Hawk perched on a bent post in a fog
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/26/2017
Red-tailed Hawk balancing in a fog
Title: Red-tailed Hawk balancing in a fog
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/26/2017
Red-tailed Hawk on a foggy morning
Title: Red-tailed Hawk on a foggy morning
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/26/2017
Red-tailed Hawk struggling for balance in a fog
Title: Red-tailed Hawk struggling for balance in a fog
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/26/2017
Red-tailed Hawk in a fog lifting one foot
Title: Red-tailed Hawk in a fog lifting one foot
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/26/2017
Red-tailed Hawk on a lichen covered cliff face
Title: Red-tailed Hawk on a lichen covered cliff face
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/24/2017
Adult Red-tailed Hawk perched on top of sagebrush
Title: Adult Red-tailed Hawk perched on top of sagebrush
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/24/2017
Gliding Red-tailed Hawk adult
Title: Gliding Red-tailed Hawk adult
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/3/2017