Red Tailed Hawk
MEASUREMENTS: The Red-tailed Hawk has a body length of 17 -22 inches, a wingspan of 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 feet,and weighs 1 1/2 - 3 1/4 pounds.
HABITAT: Red-tailed Hawks are found in North America and scattered through Central America and the West Indies. They inhabit open fields and deserts that are interspersed with woods or bluffs, urban areas, mountain forests, and tropical rainforests. Northern birds migrate south during the winter.
DIET: Small to medium-sized mammals, primarily mice, ground squirrels, and jackrabbits, birds, and reptiles are eaten by this hawk. Red-tailed Hawks hunt by swooping down from an elevated perch to seize their prey, snatching birds while flying, or pursuing prey from low level flight. They will also take food from other species. This is called pirating.
REPRODUCTION: This hawk’s stick nest may be found in tall trees, on cliffs, in cactus, or on man-made structures. The female hawk lays 1 - 5 eggs that are incubated for 28 - 35 days. The young hawks fledge about 42 days later and are sexually mature at 2 years of age.
Read MoreHABITAT: Red-tailed Hawks are found in North America and scattered through Central America and the West Indies. They inhabit open fields and deserts that are interspersed with woods or bluffs, urban areas, mountain forests, and tropical rainforests. Northern birds migrate south during the winter.
DIET: Small to medium-sized mammals, primarily mice, ground squirrels, and jackrabbits, birds, and reptiles are eaten by this hawk. Red-tailed Hawks hunt by swooping down from an elevated perch to seize their prey, snatching birds while flying, or pursuing prey from low level flight. They will also take food from other species. This is called pirating.
REPRODUCTION: This hawk’s stick nest may be found in tall trees, on cliffs, in cactus, or on man-made structures. The female hawk lays 1 - 5 eggs that are incubated for 28 - 35 days. The young hawks fledge about 42 days later and are sexually mature at 2 years of age.
