Red-tailed Hawk
(Buteo jamaicensis)

Red-tailed Hawks (RTHA) (like most raptors) are reverse size dimorphic, meaning that the females are larger than the males. But the difference is size between males and females is not as large as with Falcons or Accipiters.

Red-tailed Hawk Size

Data for length, wingspan and weight below (males and females combined) is from A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors, (Wheeler & Clark 1995). We highly recommend this book for anyone interested in raptors.

RTHA Wing** (Friedmann 1950; N males=35, N female=27)
   Males: mean 369.6 mm (337-396)
Females: mean 388.8 mm (370-427)

RTHA Tail (Friedmann 1950; N males=35, N female=27)
   Males: mean 215.6 mm (197-240)
Females: mean 230.3 mm (214.5-254)

RTHA Weight (Snyder and Wiley 1976)
   Males: mean 1028 g (n=108)
Females: mean 1224 g (n = 100)

We have found (as have others) that Western Red-tailed Hawks have longer Wings and Tails than Eastern birds (See tables below).

Below is some of our data collected on Red-tailed Hawk.  Males and female data is combined.

RTHA un-flattened Wing Chord*
Eastern:  mean 378.3 mm (350-406)
Western: mean 403.5 mm (370-430)

RTHA Tail Length
Eastern:  mean 210.0 mm (185-250)
Western: mean 238.5 mm (211-285)

Western RTHA Weight
mean 1011.6 g (595-1612)

**Wing from Friedmann data assumed to be un-flattened wing chord.
*Wing Chord is measured from from the wrist to the tip of the longest primary feather on one wing. The primary feathers have a natural camber (bend), and can be measured flattened or un-flattened.

Diet: Approx. 85% small-medium sized mammals (mice, voles, rabbits, hares and squirrels), as well as small-medium sized snakes and lizards. They are also known to eat insects, birds and bats.

I once witnessed a soaring Red-tailed Hawk snatch a small bird that flew too close (probably an American Goldfinch or Pine Siskin). The Red-tail stooped after the bird while it spiraled downward and grabbed it. The Red-tail then resumed soaring and ate the bird "on the wing". There were at least 40 other observers at a Hawk Mountain (migration observation site) that witnessed the event that day.

Nest: Usually 28 - 30 inches in wide, with an inner cavity of 14 - 15 inches diameter and 4 - 5 inches deep. The nest is made of sticks and twigs (usually one-half inch thick or less). The nest cup is lined with strips of bark and fresh greenery, usually an evergreen sprig.

The nest is usually placed in the crotch of a large tree or on a cliff ledge at least 25 feet above the ground. Most nests are 15-70 feet high.

I found a nest that was 92 feet in the broken top of a white pine. The key is the nest site usually has a commanding view of the area.

Nest Construction usually begins in February or March.

Eggs: The clutch almost always consists of 2 eggs in the Eastern U.S. and Canada and 3-4 (and even 5) in the Central and Western parts of North America.

Average size: 59 X 47 mm. (Bent, 1937)

Eggs are usually dull or dirty white (sometimes a pale bluish or greenish white). Eggs can be un-marked, but usually have some reddish to brownish markings or blotches that may be either faint or dark.

Egg laying usually begins in March or April. Eggs are usually laid 30-48 hours apart.

Incubation period: 28-30 days for each egg, but since incubation usually begins with the first egg, an additional one or two days is needed for each additional egg. A two-egg clutch may be incubated 30-32 days and nests with 3 eggs may be incubated for 32-34 days.

The first egg will hatch one or two days before the second egg, and a third egg would hatch another day or two later.

Fledging: Chicks usually make their first flight between 40-46 days after hatching and fledging usually occurs between late May and Mid July.

Longevity Record:  28 Years and 10 months; based upon known age of a wild Red-tailed Hawk at banding and subsequent band recovery (Data from Bird Banding Lab (Klimkiewicz 2008). 

Migration: Red-tailed Hawks migrate from the Northern parts of the breeding range during late Autumn. There are many raptor migration sites where Red-tailed Hawks can be viewed during Migration.

Sub Species: There are six races or subspecies of Buteo jamaicensis in North America and 8 additional subspecies in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.

Red-tailed Hawk Identification

Red-tailed Hawk Subspecies

Raptor Migration Page

Red-tailed Hawk References

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