Marana, AZ
Canon Powershot SX40HS

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed hawk is the most variable and widespread north American raptor. It is equally at home in mountains, deserts,prairies, and farmlands. A year round resident in most of the United States, the RT is the hawk most likely to be seen along highways. Utility poles and fence posts have become the accustomed perch of these raptors.

Coming in a huge variety of colors and morphs. Hunting mostly rodents from perches or in the air.
While searching for prey, these hawks will hover in place, sometimes kiting, or hanging motionless in the wind, as it scours the land.

Red-tailed hawks tend to keep the same territories their whole lives. These territories can be as large as 9.6 square miles (25 square kilometers). The birds defend their area with aerial displays of steep dives and climbs, the males and females gliding together. Red-tails pair up for life and their aerial courtships are much like their territorial displays.

VOICE a distinctive call, a harsh, descending keeeeeeer

INTERESTING FACTS

• The raspy cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is typically used in movies to represent any eagle or hawk anywhere in the world.
• They can spot a mouse from a height of 100 feet.
• Males and females perform a courtship ritual in which they dive and roll in the sky. They will even lock talons and fall together a distance before splitting apart.
• A group of hawks has many collective nouns, including a “boil”, “knot”, “spiraling”, “stream”, and “tower” of hawks.