Red-Tailed Hawks

Red-tailed hawks are known as the "Chick Hawk"

 Class: Aves     Order: Falconiformes     Family: Accipitridae

The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a medium-sized bird of prey, known as the "chick hawk,"

It breeds throughout almost all North America from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West Indies

Commonly weighing from 1.5 to 3.5 pounds (690 to 1600 grams) and measuring 18 to 26 in(45–65 cm) in length, with a wingspan from 43 to 57 in (110 to 145 cm).

The Red-tailed Hawk live in a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, tropical rainforests, agricultural fields and urban areas.

When flying, this hawk soars with wings in a slight dihedral, flapping as little as possible to conserve energy.  During flight it is slow and deliberate, with deep wing beats. In wind, it occasionally hovers on beating wings and remains stationary above the ground. While soaring or flapping its wings, it typically travels from 20 to 40 mph (64 km/h), but when diving may exceed 120 mph (190 km/h). When the Red-tailed Hawk walks, its steps are awkward and slow.

The Red-tailed Hawk is usually non-aggressive toward people and toward other birds. It is commonly harassed by crows, magpies, owls, other hawks, and even songbirds over territorial disputes, though it is generally not hurt. When threatened by an intruder, a Red-tailed Hawk will generally flee rather than defend its nest.

 In the wild Red-tailed hawks diet is , ground squirrels, mice, gophers, rabbits, and snakes. In zoos Red-tailed hawks diet are chick, mice, rats, and birds of prey diet.

 It is against the law to keep a raptor/ bird of prey, or feather from you of these birds without permission from both the state, and federal government.

The feathers and other parts of the Red-tailed Hawk are considered sacred to many Native American people and, like the feathers of the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle, are sometimes used in religious ceremonies and found adorning the regalia of many Native Americans in the United States; these parts, most especially their distinctive tail feathers, are a popular item in the Native American community.

  to listen to the Red-tailed cry click here