Home, near and far.
This species breeds across most of North America, from central Alaska and northern Canada south through the United States to Panama and the West Indies. It is absent from dense, unbroken forests and the high Arctic.
Birds Heard
FIELD GUIDE
FIELD GUIDE
Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
The Red-tailed Hawk is a widespread and familiar raptor across North America, known for its broad, rounded wings and soaring flight. This adaptable hawk can be found in a variety of open and semi-open habitats. Adults are typically identified by their distinctive reddish-brown tail, though plumage can vary considerably across its extensive range.
Resident, MigratoryLarge sizeRaspy screamCarnivorous
- Length
- 45-65 cm
- Wingspan
- 110-145 cm
- Weight
- 690-1600 g
Typical adult measurements.
Individuals and populations vary.
01 / The telltale details
You’ll know it
when you see it.
Start with shape and behavior. Then look for the smaller details.
- 01
Adult Tail
Adults typically have a uniformly brick-red tail on the upper side, appearing light buff-orange from below.
- 02
Juvenile Tail
Immature birds have a brown tail with numerous narrow dark bands, lacking the adult's red coloration.
- 03
Belly Band
Many individuals, especially in the eastern part of the continent, exhibit a band of dark streaks across the lower belly.
- 04
Underwing Pattern
From below, look for a dark bar on the leading edge of the wing, between the shoulder and the wrist.
02 / A place in the world
Where life
takes it.
Red-tailed Hawks inhabit diverse environments, including open woodlands, grasslands, deserts, agricultural fields, and urban areas. They prefer areas offering a mix of open ground for hunting and tall perches like trees or utility poles.
Stay a while. Or follow the season.
Northern populations are migratory, moving south for winter, while those in the southern parts of their range are often year-round residents. Fall migration can begin as early as August in northern areas and continue into December further south.
03 / Listen a little closer
A voice
of its own.
The Red-tailed Hawk produces a thrilling, raspy, down-slurred scream, commonly used in films to represent various raptors. Juveniles may give a high-pitched begging call.
04 / The life behind the feathers
A day in its world.
On the menu.
Red-tailed Hawks are opportunistic predators, primarily consuming small mammals such as rodents, rabbits, and squirrels. They also prey on birds, reptiles, and some insects, and may occasionally feed on carrion.
These hawks primarily hunt from elevated perches, scanning the ground for prey before swooping down. They also hunt by soaring over fields or hovering into the wind, using their keen eyesight to spot movement.
A place to begin.
Nests are bulky stick structures, often lined with finer materials and green branches, built by both sexes. They are typically placed in tall trees at the edge of woodlands or in isolated trees, but can also be found on cliffs or artificial structures.
The little routines.
Red-tailed Hawks are generally solitary outside of the breeding season. Mated pairs are territorial and often remain together for years, performing aerial courtship displays that include high soaring and steep dives.
One more reason to pay attention
A familiar face.
A few surprises.
Female Red-tailed Hawks are typically about 25% larger and heavier than males.
The "Harlan's Hawk" is a dark morph subspecies that breeds in Alaska and the Yukon, and has a marbled white, brown, and gray tail instead of red.
Red-tailed Hawks are protected in Canada, Mexico, and the United States under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
05 / An eye for the difference
Could it be
someone else?
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatusRed-shouldered Hawks are generally smaller with more extensive barring on the underparts and a black-and-white banded tail.
Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterusBroad-winged Hawks are smaller, with a more compact build and a tail typically banded with broad black and white stripes.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetosGolden Eagles are significantly larger, with a more powerful bill and golden nape feathers; adults lack the red tail.
Behind these field notesResearch & references · 12 sources
AI-assisted species research. Prepared September 2026. Details can vary across regions and populations.