Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis

This is My Guide, in life,  in dreams, and in death.  

Mica, a typical member of the Western North American group Buteo jamaicensis calurus

Range

The Red-tailed Hawk ranges throughout North America to the northern limit of the tree line in Alaska and Canada, and south as far as the mountains of Panama. It is also present in much of the West Indies.

Throughout most of its range it is a most adaptable bird, being equally at home in deserts and forests, and at varying heights above sea level. In the southern parts of its range, however, it is a bird of the mountains, in pine and oak forest.

Diet

The Red-tailed Hawk is a most opportunistic feeder. Its diet is varied, with rabbits and small and medium sized rodents being preferred. Where there are large numbers of pheasant, these become the food of choice in spring and summer. Other prey taken includes snakes and lizards.

In captivity in winter an average red tail will eat about 135g (4-5oz) daily.

The usual cry is a two to three second hoarse, rasping scream. that has a little of the steam whistle about it.

This is a scream of annoyance or anger, usually heard when an enemy or a rival hawk comes into its range. It is usually heard when the bird is soaring or perched, loudly and persistently during territorial disputes, and sometimes when it is hunting.

When parents leave the nest, the young utter a loud wailing klee-uk, repeated several times - this is a food cry.

Status and behavior in the wild

The Red-tailed Hawk is, for a member of the buzzard family, a powerful and husky species, with the widest ecological tolerance of any North American Hawk, being absent only from tundra and deep forest.

It is an aggressive bird and vigorously defends its territory, especially during the winter months when hunting is difficult and up to seven of the nine hours of daylight are spent hunting.

The pair bond is strong, even outside the breeding season, and the large female will defend her smaller mate against aggressors.

1-3 eggs are laid, and incubated for 28-32 days. The shells are hard, and hatching takes 24-48 hours from pipping. The young fledge at about 45 days.

The Red-tailed Hawk is a grouping of 14 sub-species, each of which is more or less specific to a geographical area, and differs from the others in size, markings etc. .

Coloring varies (even within sub-species) from this very dark appearance to a very pale form, so field identification is more satisfactory from the birds' behavior than from appearance alone. Within its range, its frequent soaring and loud voice are a good pointer.
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. The above information and pictures about the "Red Tailed Hawk"  were obtained with written permission from the: "Hawk Conservancy"    Please support them!! do not think you can copy these pics or information without their permission! .

. . This poem is a collaboration of thoughts, and observations.

. THE RAVEN

. . I am fast,

I soar,

I am powerful,

Yet I bow to her.

I am the "Hawk".

.. . She is black,

She is night.

Three against one,

She chases me.

She is amused,

She is the "Raven".

. by "Hawk"

2.

for "Raven"

. . "The Raven" Copyrighted © 1997 Brian Special thanks to the "Hawk Conservancy" for the pic of the raven

. ..     

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