Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

May 27, 2015

Red-tailed Hawk

LaMoure County North Dakota

May 27, 2016

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

March 30, 2016

Red-tailed Hawk with Mouse

Burleigh County North Dakota

August 22, 2016

Krider version of Red-tailed Hawk

Leaping Upward to Initiate Flight

Burleigh County North Dakota

September 1, 2016

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

June 26, 2018

Western Kingbird and Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

July 2, 2018

Red-tailed Hawks

Burleigh County North Dakota

July 4, 2017

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

July 4, 2017

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

July 13, 2017

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

July 16, 2017

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

July 16, 2017

The red-tailed hawk is a common and widespread hawk.  This hawk has a great variety of appearances and differs with geography.  There are five races of red-tails: western, eastern, Fuertes, Florida and Harlan's.  Western red-tails are found in the Pacific Northwest and the Eastern race extends to the northern Great Plains. 

The red-tailed hawk is frequently seen during the summer in the northern plains.  This hawk’s breeding range is largely in Canada but also includes Alaska, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and parts of New England and the eastern United States.  They winter in most of the United States except the northern plains states.  Commonly called a “chicken hawk”, the red-tailed hawk usually eats small mammals but also will attack birds and snakes.  You are most likely to see the “red-tail” on powerline posts, hay bales or occasionally on fence posts.  I have seen the hawk listen intently then pounce to the ground and come up with an unfortunate mouse. 

The estimated population of red-tails in the United States is 1 million.  They are monogamous and will often return to the same breeding area year after year.  Sexual maturity occurs at 2 years of age.  Males will attempt a courtship flight display with females before mating. 

Many falconers have red-tailed hawks as their hunting companions due to the intelligent, social and healthy nature of these hawks.

In flight one of the best identifying features is the dark marks on the front underwing.  Adults show a red tail and juvenile have two-toned upper wings.

Length averages 19 inches, wingspan 49 inches and weighs 2 ½ pounds with large red-tails up to 3 1/3 pounds.

The Krider's version is a white morph of the Eastern red-tail with a nearly all white head and underparts

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

July 1, 2017

Red-tailed Hawk

McKenzie Slough, Burleigh County North Dakota

March 27, 2018

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

July 23, 2017

Red-tailed Hawk

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

September 30, 2017

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

June 2, 2017

Moveable Necks

Raptors have 14 cervical vertebrae that allow them to turn their necks 180 degrees or more. In contrast, humans have only 7 cervical vertebrae and can rotate their heads just 70-90 degrees in either direction.

https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/learn/glossary/

Birds, such as the red-tailed hawk, move their head to move their eyes

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County North Dakota

October 30, 2018

Neck flexion 45 degrees allows the red-tailed hawk to check the ground for prey

Neck extension 90 degrees allows the red-tailed hawk to check the sky for other predators

Neck rotation 90 degrees allows the red-tailed hawk to check the sky for prey and  other predators

Neck rotation 135 degrees allows the red-tailed hawk to clean and prune feathers and check the area for prey and other predators

Neck rotation 180 degrees allows the red-tailed hawk to clean and prune feathers and check the area for prey and other predators

2019 Photos

Red-tailed Hawk Breakfast

Red-tailed Hawk

Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota

October 19, 2019

Red-tailed Hawk

Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota

October 19, 2019

Red-tailed Hawk

Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota

October 19, 2019

2020 Photos

Red-tailed Hawk

Morton County, North Dakota

May 23, 2020

Red-tailed Hawk and Orchard Oriole

 McKenzie Slough, Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 24, 2020

Red-tailed Hawk

McKenzie Slough, Burleigh County, North Dakota

Photo of the Day- September 12, 2020

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

October 4, 2020

Red-tailed Hawk and Common Grackle

McKenzie Slough, Burleigh County, North Dakota

October 6, 2020

Red-tailed Hawk and Common Grackle

McKenzie Slough, Burleigh County, North Dakota

Photo of the Day- October 6, 2020

Red-tailed Hawk

McLean County, North Dakota

November 6, 2020

Red-tail Hawk!

This Red-tailed Hawk was photographed in Treasure County, Montana in the valley of the Yellowstone River in January 2020 as I traveled to Yellowstone National Park!

Photo of the Day for January 18, 2020

Red-tailed Hawk

McKenzie Slough, Burleigh County, North Dakota

September 30, 2020

2021 Photographs

Red-tailed Hawk

   Prairie County, Montana

January 28, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk (Dark Morph)

Little Missouri National Grasslands, North Dakota

March 19, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk (Dark Morph)

Little Missouri National Grasslands, North Dakota

March 19, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

McKenzie Slough, Burleigh County, North Dakota

April 3, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Emmons County, North Dakota

April 13, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

June 10, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

June 10, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

June 10, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

June 12, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

June 12, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

June 12, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

June 12, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

June 14, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

June 14, 2021

Magestic!

Red-tailed Hawk

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

June 18, 2021

Massive Claws!

Red-tailed Hawk

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

June 18, 2021

Takeoff!

Red-tailed Hawk

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

June 18, 2021

Flying!

Red-tailed Hawk

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

June 18, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

 June 22, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

 June 22, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

 June 22, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

 June 22, 2021

Landing Gear Down!

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 1, 2021

Red Tail!

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 1, 2021

Baby!

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 1, 2021

Baby!

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 1, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 10, 2021

Fledged Babies!

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 10, 2021

Fledged Baby!

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 10, 2021

The Chase!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

The Chase!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

The Chase!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

The Chase!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

The Chase!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

A King-size (Kingbird-size) Headache!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

Take Off!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

The Chase!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

Landing!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

Another King-size (Kingbird-size) Headache!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

Time to Get Moving!

Red-tailed Hawk and Red-tailed Blackbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

The Chase!

Red-tailed Hawk and Red-tailed Blackbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

Take Off!

Red-tailed Hawk and Red-tailed Blackbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

Krider Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

Krider Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 15, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk Baby

Burleigh County, North Dakota

June 28, 2021

The Chase!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 17, 2021

The Chase!

Red-tailed Hawk and Western Kingbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 17, 2021

Fledgling!

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

July 22, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

McKenzie Slough, Burleigh County, North Dakota

September 6, 2021

Red-tailed Hawk

McKenzie Slough, Burleigh County, North Dakota

September 14, 2021

2023 Photos

Red-tailed Hawk

Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota

April 8, 2023

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

April 11, 2023

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

April 11, 2023

The Chase is On!

Raptor being harassed by song bird!

Red-tailed Hawk and Red-winged Blackbird

Burleigh County, North Dakota

Photo of the Day- April 15, 2023

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

August 18, 2023

Red-tailed Hawk

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

May 25, 2024

Soaring!

Riding thermal currents in 97 degree temperature!

Red-winged Hawk

McKenzie County, North Dakota

Photo of the Day- July 14, 2024

Red-tailed Hawk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

October 20, 2024