Birds diurnal

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

The Red-tailed Hawk is the quintessential guardian of the open sky, known for its piercing gaze and iconic cinnamon tail. A common sight in backyards and highways alike, this powerful raptor is a master of the aerial hunt.

1 Sightings

1 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 18-26 in (45-65 cm); Wingspan: 43-57 in (110-145 cm); Weight: 1.5-3.5 lbs (0.7-1.6 kg)

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Colors

Typically chocolate-brown above and pale below with a streaked belly band; adults have a signature cinnamon-red upper tail

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Key Features

Broad, rounded wings with dark bars on the leading edges
Short, wide tail that turns brick-red in adults
Streaked 'belly band' across an otherwise pale underside
Stocky build with a hooked beak and yellow talons

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 9 AM - 5 PM (mid-morning to late afternoon)

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Season Year-round

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Diet Opportunistic carnivores focusing on small mammals like voles, mice, and rabbits; also eats reptiles and occasionally smaller birds

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Habitat Open landscapes with scattered perches, including grasslands, agricultural fields, suburban parks, and forest edges

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Behavior

Red-tailed Hawks are masters of the sky, often seen soaring in wide circles or perched stoically on telephone poles overlooking open fields. They are highly territorial raptors that use their incredible eyesight—about eight times more powerful than a human's—to spot small movements in the grass from hundreds of feet in the air. While they are solitary hunters, they often pair for life, performing impressive aerial displays during courtship where they lock talons and spiral toward the earth.

In suburban environments, these hawks have become remarkably well-adapted to human presence. They utilize man-made structures like stadium lights and skyscrapers as vantage points for hunting. While they generally avoid direct interaction with people, they are bold enough to nest in backyard trees if the food supply is consistent. Their iconic, raspy 'kee-ee-arr' scream is so intimidating that it is frequently used in Hollywood movies as a stand-in for the sound of a Bald Eagle.

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Camera Tips

To capture a Red-tailed Hawk on your backyard camera, you need to think vertically. Unlike ground-dwelling wildlife, these hawks rarely spend time on the forest floor unless they have just made a kill. Position your camera to face a prominent, sturdy 'sentinel' perch—such as a fence post, a dead tree limb (snag), or the top of a pergola. Ensure the camera is angled slightly upward and has a clear line of sight, as these birds prefer perches that offer a 360-degree view of their surroundings.

Because hawks are triggered by movement and are lightning-fast, you should prioritize a camera with a high trigger speed (0.2 seconds or less) and a fast recovery time. If your camera supports 'Burst Mode' or 'Photo + Video,' enable it; capturing the moment the hawk unfolds its massive wings to take flight is the holy grail of backyard bird photography. Set your PIR (passive infrared) sensitivity to 'High' to ensure the sensor picks up the bird’s heat signature against the cooler sky or foliage.

Lighting is your biggest challenge when shooting upward. To avoid 'silhouetting'—where the bird appears as a black shadow against a bright sky—place your camera so the sun is behind it during the peak mid-morning hunting hours. If you have a bird bath, you might occasionally catch a Red-tailed Hawk dropping down for a drink or a dip, but their primary draw to your yard will be the presence of squirrels or songbirds. Avoid using birdseed as a direct lure, as hawks are strictly carnivorous, but maintaining a healthy bird feeder station will naturally attract the prey that brings the hawks into your camera's field of view.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Red-tailed Hawk.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Smaller with a heavily barred reddish-orange chest and a black-and-white banded tail.

Cooper's Hawk

Leaner build with shorter, rounded wings and a much longer tail; typically hunts songbirds in dense cover.

Swainson's Hawk

Possesses a dark 'bib' on the upper chest and longer, more pointed wings compared to the Red-tail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Red-tailed Hawks are diurnal, meaning they are active during daylight hours. They are most frequently seen from mid-morning through late afternoon, as they rely on rising warm air currents called 'thermals' to help them soar and hunt with minimal effort.

You cannot easily attract hawks with food like you can songbirds, as they only eat live prey. However, providing high, sturdy perching spots and maintaining a wildlife-friendly yard that supports a population of rodents or small birds will naturally encourage them to visit.

Their diet consists primarily of small mammals, with voles, mice, rats, and rabbits making up the bulk of their meals. They are also known to eat snakes, lizards, and occasionally larger insects or other birds if the opportunity arises.

Yes, they are one of the most adaptable raptors in North America. They frequently nest in suburban parks and hunt along highway medians or in residential backyards where squirrels and rodents are plentiful.

Red-tailed Hawks are larger and have a distinctive dark 'belly band' of streaks on their white underside. Red-shouldered Hawks are smaller, have a more reddish-orange chest, and feature narrow white bands on a dark tail, whereas the adult Red-tail has a solid cinnamon-red tail.

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