Buteo
jamaicensis
(Red-tailed Hawk)
Physical
Description:
19-25" (48-64 cm). Dark
brown above; lighter below with dark
band of streaks across the belly.
Red on tail as name suggests; lighter rump.
Similar Species- Swainson's, Rough-legged, Ferruginous, and Red-shouldered hawks.
Song:
A down-slurred scream: keeeer.
Distribution:
Breeds from parts of Alaska
and parts of western and southern Canada, south to Baja California, northern
Mexico, southern Texas, Gulf coast, and Florida, and south from there through
highlands of Middle America to Coasta Rica and western Panama. Winters from
southern Canada, south through remainder of breeding range, and in lowlands
of Central America.
Diet:
Opportunistic. Commonly eats rodents,
birds, and reptiles, but will also eat other vertebrates and invertebrates as
available. In Idaho, diet often includes ground squirrels, gophers, rabbits,
mice, small birds, and reptiles. In Idaho studies, prey selection depended on
relative prey densities and diet.
Ecology:
Builds stick nest in cliff, tree, or on
artificial structure. Breeding density (pairs/km2) varies from 0.03 (Utah) to
0.78 (California), but is mostly less than 0.25. Elevated perches are important
element of habitat. Home range found to be 13 km2 in Idaho study; composition
of sympatric
Red-tail and Ferruginous hawks was not affected by interspecific competition. Species is most common
hawk in Idaho.
5 eggs for about 34 days
per egg. Both parents tend young, which leave nest at about 4 wk, fly at about
6.5-7 wk, and depend on parents for food for few weeks after fledging (Idaho study
found 2.9 young/successful pair were produced). If clutch is lost, adult pair will
renest (usually in another nest) a few weeks later. Successful reproduction usually
does not occur before 2 yr. Pair bond is typically lifelong, at least in non-migratory
populations, and probably in migrants as well.
Conservation:
| Element Code: | ABNKC19110 |
| Status: | Protected nongame species |
| Global Rank: | G5 |
| State Rank: | S5,NTMB |
| National Rank: | N5B,N5N |
Important
State References:
Steenhof, K. and M.N. Kochert.
1988. Dietary responses of three raptor species to changing prey densities in
a natural environment. J. Animal Ecol. 57:37-48.