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Photo by Lynn Chamberlain
Photo Copyright Lynn Chamberlain
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): S4S5
External links
General information
The red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis, occurs statewide in Utah, where it is the most commonly seen bird of prey. This hawk has a wide North American range, occurring from Alaska south to the Carribean and Central America. It is frequently found in open country where scattered trees or other elevated perches are available. It usually hunts from high perches, capturing rodents, rabbits, birds, and reptiles. Whereas populations in Canada and the northern Great Plains migrate south in winter, populations in the southern half of North America, including those in Utah, are year-round residents.
Breeding pairs are usually monogamous for life. Nests are constructed high in trees, frequently in the tallest tree near the edge of woods, sometimes as high as 100 feet above ground. In treeless country, nests are built in the tops of shrubs or on cliffs. Pairs often return to the same nesting area in successive years. Two or three eggs are laid. Incubation lasts about 34 days, and is done mostly by the female. Young are tended by both parents, with most of the food brought to the nest by the male and most of the feeding done by the female. Young fly after about six weeks, but depend on their parents for food for at least a few weeks after fledging. If a clutch is lost, the pair may re-nest a few weeks later, usually at a new nest site.
Phenology
Rain and fog reduce flying activity and foraging time in forest birds in Puerto Rico (Santana 1988).
Species range
BREEDS: western and central Alaska, central Yukon, western Mackenzie, northern Saskatchewan, northern Manitoba, central Ontario, southern Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia south to southeastern Alaska, Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon, southern Texas, Gulf Coast, and Florida, and highlands of Middle America to Costa Rica and western Panama (east to Canal Zone); in Tres Marias and Socorro islands off western Mexico; and in northern Bahamas (Grand Bahama, Abaco, Andros), Greater Antilles, and northern Lesser Antilles (Saba south to Nevis) (AOU 1983). WINTERS: southern Canada south through remainder of breeding range, also in lowlands of Central America. In the U.S., most abundant in winter in California-western Nevada and in the farming and ranching region of the central U.S. (Root 1988). Accidental in England and Bermuda (AOU 1983).
Migration
Northern populations mainly migratory (some breeders resident on or near territories all year), generally arrive in northern breeding areas in March and April (yearlings may still be migrating as late as May and June), depart by September-October (Bent 1937), may continue southward movement into December. Migrations may be influenced by food supply. Most migrants from north migrate no farther south than northern Mexico (Palmer 1988).
Habitat
Wide variety of open woodland and open country with scattered trees, rarely in denser forest (AOU 1983), but nests in forest and takes prey from forest canopy in Puerto Rico (Recher and Recher 1966, Santana 1988). Elevated perches are important element of habitat. Nests in trees to 37 m above ground, frequently high in tallest tree near edge of woods; also, in treeless country, in top of shrub, cactus, or on cliff. Often returns to same nesting area in successive years.
Food habits
Opportunistic. Rodents, lagomorphs, birds, and reptiles common in diet but also eats various other vertebrates and sometimes invertebrates as available. Among several hunting methods, perch-and-wait most common and yields greatest success (Palmer 1988). Also perches and hunts along highways.
Ecology
Breeding density (pairs /sq. km) varies from 0.03 (Utah) to 0.78 (California); mostly less than 0.025 (but 0.2-0.6 pairs/sq. km in different habitats in Puerto) (Santana 1988, Rothfels and Lein 1983). In Puerto Rico, remains paired and defends territory throughout the year (Santana 1988). Also territorial in winter in at least some parts of the U.S. In a largely sedentary population in Wisconsin, mean seasonal home ranges varied as follows: fall male 390 ha (n=1), female 123 ha (n=2); winter male 157 ha (n=3), female 167 ha (n=6); spring male 163 ha (n=2), female 85 ha (n=6); summer male 117 ha (n=1), female 117 ha (n=5) (Petersen 1979). Most forage within 3 kilometers of the nest (Kochert 1986). See Palmer (1988) for discussion of interactions with other hawks and Great Horned Owl.
Reproductive characteristics
Clutch size commonly is 2-3. Incubation lasts about 34 days per egg, mostly by female. Young are tended by both parents, may leave nest at about 4 weeks, fly at about 6.5-7 weeks, depend on parents for food for at least a few weeks after fledging. If clutch lost, renests usually in another nest a few weeks later. Successful reproduction usually does not occur before age 2 years. Pair bond typically lifelong, at least in nonmigratory populations and probably in migrants as well.
References
- Preston, C. R., and R. D. Beane. 1993. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Birds of North America 52: 24 pp.
- Baicich, P. J., and C. J. O. Harrison. 1997. A guide to the nests, eggs, and nestlings of North American Birds, Second Ed. Academic Press, San Diego. 347 pp.
