Red-tailed Hawk

With broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail, the red-tailed hawk is the most common hawk across North America. Coloration varies across their range, but most red-tailed hawks have light auburn to deep brown feathers on their back and wings, with a pale, streaked belly. As juveniles, they have more streaks of dark brown across their entire bodies. Additionally, their characteristic red tail is only gained after their first-year molt. They also have a sharp, hooked beak and large curved talons.

Like many other hawk species, the female red-tailed hawk is often 25% larger than the male. As juveniles age, both their feather and eye colors change. Young juvenile red-tailed hawks will start out with gray or golden eyes that later darken to a deep brown in adulthood.

Not only are red-tailed hawks the most common hawk in North America, they are also the second largest. While males can weigh between 1.5 and 2.9 pounds, females can weigh between 2 and 3.2 pounds. Their wingspan reaches approximately 4 feet.

Found throughout North America, from Canada through the United States, Mexico, and further into Central America, Red-tailed hawks can tolerate a wide variety of habitats. They prefer areas that have open spaces with options for scattered, elevated perches (like treetops, telephone poles, or even fence posts). On your next drive down the freeway, you are very likely to spot one of them soaring through the big open sky or sitting on a lamp post.

In the past 100 years, their geographic range has expanded, most likely due to an increase in patchy woodland and open areas (like agricultural land and parks). They play an important role in keeping the local population of rodents and other small mammals in check.

Red-tailed hawks are opportunistic hunters and prey on a variety of species, with 85% of their diet consisting of small mammals. Reptiles and other birds make up the other 15%. This species of raptor specializes in scanning the ground for prey from high up above. This is done from trees, telephone poles, or soaring through the sky. Once prey is spotted on the ground, they engage in a steep dive before catching the food in their powerful talons to finish the job. This is reflected in their body shape, in which broad wings and a fan shaped tail aid in soaring through open skies.

Red-tailed hawks are diurnal. They will live together in pairs, often for many years in the same territory. They are territorial and will defend their territories that can range in size from 1-3 square miles. These hawks are frequently spotted soaring over large open spaces either looking for food or guarding their territory. Size of their territory depends on a variety of factors, including the quality of the habitat, the sex of the individual, and the season.

Red-tailed hawks are monogamous and will mate with the same individuals for many years, often only changing mates if the original dies. Courting hawks will put on a display where they soar in wide circles and a great height- the male then makes a steep dive, shooting up again at another steep angle. After several swoops, he will approach the female from above, extend his legs, and touch briefly. In some cases, they will grab on to one another, clasp talons and plummet in spirals toward the ground before pulling away. This process can last roughly 10 minutes or more.

Red-tailed hawks typically put their nests in the crowns of tall trees, or on cliff ledges, or other artificial structures (window ledges, billboard platforms, etc.). Both members will build the nest, or refurbish ones they’ve used in previous years. The nests are piles of dry sticks up to 3 feet across, with the inner lining being bark strips, fresh foliage, and dry vegetation. Throughout the breeding season, they will routinely refresh these materials as needed.

Breeding season occurs in the spring, with most hawks being sexually mature around 3 years of age. They will lay a clutch of 1-5 eggs that will incubate for 28-35 days. Both parents will incubate the eggs, though males spend less time incubating and more time bringing food to the female when she is in the nest. When hatched, chicks are tiny and helpless, weighing only about 2 ounces. The females feed the nestlings by tearing the food into small pieces and the chicks will begin to leave the nest after around 45 days. Their fledgling period lasts up to 10 weeks, where the juveniles will learn to fly and hunt on their own.

Oakland Zoo currently has a red-tailed hawk, Rufous, as one of our animal ambassadors. Rufous hatched in 2021, but became ill in his first year and was brought into the Lindsay Wildlife Experience rehabilitation hospital. Unfortunately, he sustained permanent damage to his soft palate that causes respiratory issues in sustained flight. Due to these issues, he was deemed non-releasable and rehomed to the Zoo.

Rufous is a wonderful animal ambassador. He is smart and eager to work with the staff on anything ranging from target training, glove work, and solving food puzzles. You can meet Rufous during special Wildlife Assembly or ZooCamp programs. During these programs, kids can learn more about these animals and the habitats, adaptations, or other features that make them special. You might also get lucky on your next visit to the zoo and encounter him on a serendipitous Pathway Encounter or Wildlife Theater show.