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.
Spring immature Red-tailed Hawk in grasses
Title: Spring immature Red-tailed Hawk in grasses
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 3/25/2022
Red-tailed Hawk resting on a cliff face in bitter cold temps
Title: Red-tailed Hawk resting on a cliff face in bitter cold temps
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 2/26/2022
Adult Red-tailed Hawk refurbishing a nest
Title: Adult Red-tailed Hawk refurbishing a nest
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 2/26/2022
Young Red-tailed Hawk looking for prey
Title: Young Red-tailed Hawk looking for prey
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 2/10/2022
February immature Red-tailed Hawk portrait
Title: February immature Red-tailed Hawk portrait
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 2/10/2022
Immature Red-tailed Hawk head on portrait
Title: Immature Red-tailed Hawk head on portrait
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 2/10/2022
February immature Red-tailed Hawk close up
Title: February immature Red-tailed Hawk close up
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 2/10/2022
Young Red-tailed Hawk up close
Title: Young Red-tailed Hawk up close
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 2/10/2022
Bear River immature Red-tailed Hawk
Title: Bear River immature Red-tailed Hawk
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 1/8/2022
Back view of a young Red-tailed Hawk on the Bear River
Title: Back view of a young Red-tailed Hawk on the Bear River
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 1/8/2022
Young Red-tailed Hawk dining on the bank of the Bear River
Title: Young Red-tailed Hawk dining on the bank of the Bear River
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 1/8/2022
Immature Red-tailed Hawk eating prey on the Bear River
Title: Immature Red-tailed Hawk eating prey on the Bear River
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 1/8/2022
Immature Red-tailed Hawk with prey on the bank of the Bear River
Title: Immature Red-tailed Hawk with prey on the bank of the Bear River
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 1/8/2022
Portrait of an immature Red-tailed Hawk on a riverbank
Title: Portrait of an immature Red-tailed Hawk on a riverbank
Location: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 1/8/2022
Dark morph Red-tailed Hawk lifting off with prey
Title: Dark morph Red-tailed Hawk lifting off with prey
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 11/21/2021
Red-tailed Hawk flying to a higher cliff face
Title: Red-tailed Hawk flying to a higher cliff face
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 10/3/2021
Adult Red-tailed Hawk flying past desert cliffs
Title: Adult Red-tailed Hawk flying past desert cliffs
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 10/3/2021
Light morph Red-tailed Hawk adult after lift off
Title: Light morph Red-tailed Hawk adult after lift off
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 10/3/2021
Resting light morph Red-tailed Hawk on a desert cliff face
Title: Resting light morph Red-tailed Hawk on a desert cliff face
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 10/3/2021
Resting dark morph Red-tailed Hawk on a cliff face
Title: Resting dark morph Red-tailed Hawk on a cliff face
Location: Box Elder County, Utah
Date: 10/3/2021