Red Tail Hawk – Buteo jamaicensis
I think Red tail hawk – Buteo Jamaicencis is one of the best falconry hawk one of the most used hawk for falconry some time ago. When I read a falconry books, almost all of them will tell something about red tail hawk.
I do some search in the internet and found these information of red tail hawk.
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(source: http://www.desertusa.com/aug96/du_hawk.html)
The Red-tailed Hawk ranges throughout North America to the central Alaska and northern Canada, and south as far as the mountains of Panama. Although not truly migratory, they do adjust seasonally to areas of the most abundant prey . In winter many of the northern birds move south,
Based on general body shape and flight habits, hawks are classified into three different groups (genera): the Accipiters, the Falcons and the Buteos.
The Sharp-shinned Hawk, the Cooper’s Hawk and the Goshawk are Accipiters. They have long tails and short, rounded wings that enable them to dart through and around trees in pursuit of other birds, their principal prey. Typically, they fly low with a series of rapid wing beats followed by a brief period of sailing, then another series of wing beats. Accipiters are associated with brush and timbered areas.
Falcons prefer open country. They include the Prairie Falcon, the Peregrine Falcon (Duck Hawk), the Merlin (Pigeon Hawk), and the dainty little American Kestrel, also called the Sparrow Hawk. Falcons have a streamlined body, long, pointed wings and long tails. A series of strong, rapid wing beats gives them extremely fast flight in open country, and their swiftness allows them to overtake and capture other birds on the wing.
The American Kestrel is the smallest of our hawks and feeds mainly on mice and insects. It is the only one of the falcons that hovers over its intended prey. Because of its habitat and range, it is also the only Falcon or Accipiter that most people are likely to see.
The Buteos are the largest of the hawks. They are the broad-winged, broad-tailed soaring hawks that are more readily seen because of their habit of circling high in the air or perching in dead trees or on telephone poles along the road. They include the Red-tailed, the Red-shouldered, the Swainson’s, the Rough-legged and the Ferruginous hawks.
Description
The Red-tail is the largest hawk, usually weighing between 2 and 4 pounds. As with most raptors, the female is nearly 1/3 larger than the male and may have a wing span of 56 inches. This species shows a great deal of individual variation in plumage.
The adult has a rufous-colored tail that may or may not have a black terminal bar. Adults are dark brown on the back and the top of their wings. The underside of the bird is usually light with a dark belly band, and a cinnamon wash on the neck and chest. . Immatures resemble the adults except their tail is brown with dark bars; the red- tail molts in during its second year.
The adult Red-tailed Hawk is easily identified, for when it leaves its perch on slow, measured wing beats, or turns while soaring overhead, the broad, rounded tail shows a rich, russet red, hence the name. Within its range, its frequent soaring and loud voice are a good pointer.
Vocalization
The Red-tailed Hawk has hoarse and rasping 2- to 3-econd scream that is most commonly heard while soaring. They are loudest when defending their. When parents leave the nest, the young utter a loud wailing “klee-uk,” repeated several times – this is a food cry.
Tail
The Red-tailed Hawk has a broad, rounded tail that shows a rich, russet red.
Eyes
The eyesight of a hawk is eight times as powerful as a human’s.
Behavior
The Red-tailed Hawk is the most widespread and familiar member of the American Buteos (large soaring hawks). They nest in the month of March in tall tress. Like all other Buteos, it does not fly fast but soars at high altitudes using its keen eyesight to spot the slightest movement in the grass below. It is an aggressive bird and vigorously defends its territory, especially during the winter months when hunting is difficult
Habitat
The Red-tailed Hawk is usually found in grasslands or marsh- shrub habitats, but is very adaptable bird, being equally at home in deserts and forests, and at varying heights above sea level.
Food & Hunting
The Red-tailed Hawk is a most opportunistic hunter. Its diet is varied, but there is conclusive evidence now that 85 to 90 % is composed of small rodents, with rabbits, snakes and lizards included. Where there are large numbers of pheasant, these become the food of choice in spring and summer. Like all hawks, its talons are its main weapons.
Breeding
Mating and nest building begin in early spring, usually in March and continue through May. This is accompanied by spectacular aerial displays by both males and females. Circling and soaring to great heights, they fold their wings and plummet to treetop level, repeating this display as much as five or six times.
Nests are located from 35 to 75 feet high in the forks of large trees. The nest is large, flat, shallow and made of sticks and twigs about 1/2 inch in diameter. Both males and females assist in nest construction. Nest sites may be used from year to year, since there is strong evidence that hawks mate for life. If the old nest is wind damaged, layers of new nesting material are added each year.
The female usually lays 2 dull-white to bluish-white eggs that are marked with a variety of irregular reddish spots and splotches. Incubation takes 28-32 days and is maintained almost entirely by the female. During this period the male hunts for both of them, bringing her food to the nest.
When hatched, the young are covered with white down. They grow slowly and require much food, which keeps both parents busy. They remain in the nest for up to 48 days. During the last 10 days or so the young, which now appear as large as the parent birds, practice flapping their wings and balancing in the wind on the edge of the nest, preparing for the days when they will launch themselves into the air.
The young fledge at about 45 days. Red-tails typically do not begin breeding until their third year.
Conservation
In California, state and federal laws protect all raptors. Because of their inexperience hunting, juvenile birds may be seen eating road-killed animals. They may even kill chickens, and despite this rare occurrence, the Red-tail is known throughout the country as a “chicken hawk.” As a consequence, dead hawks hanging from fences and lying under trees and power poles are mute evidence that shooters, not understanding the economic or esthetic importance of raptors, or perhaps unaware of protective laws, still kill them indiscriminately. In the rare case of an individual raptor or hawk that engages in active predation on domestic birds or animals, such a bird may be judiciously removed in accordance with current regulations.
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(source:http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/red-tailed_hawk.htm)
Red-tailed Hawks are most often seen soaring high above the ground, looking for food. They are very difficult to identify unless they come closer to the earth.
This raptor grows up to 25 inches long and can weigh up to four pounds (heavy for a bird; remember, they have hollow bones!). Its wingspan can reach four feet.
Red-tailed Hawks are large, stocky birds. They are brown with a white breast and a rust-colored tail. If you can get close enough, the tail is the best way to identify them. Young Red-tailed Hawks are more dull in color, have more streaks, and are missing the red in their tails.
Red-tailed Hawks live in forests near open country. Nests are usually built near the edge of a stream, lake, or field.
Although they eat mostly mammals, there is a great variety of other animals Red-tailed Hawks will prey upon, including: snakes, turtles, frogs, lizards, salamanders, toads, ducks, bobwhite, crows, woodpeckers, starlings, doves, Red-winged Blackbirds, kingfishers, robins, owls, other birds, crayfish, centipedes, spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, earthworms, and fish.
Red-tailed Hawks will also eat roadkill and other carrion (previously dead, but fairly fresh animals).
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Here is some more information from the Hawk conservation sites. It is very usefull and brief.
(source: http://www.hawk-conservancy.org/priors/redtail.shtml)
Red-tailed Hawk – Buteo jamaicensis
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 redtail will eat about 135g (4-5oz) daily.
Voice
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 behaviour 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..
Colouring varies (even within sub-species) from this very dark appearance to a very pale form, so field identification is more satisfactory from the birds’ behaviour than from appearance alone. Within its range, its frequent soaring and loud voice are a good pointer.
Okay, I think the information from the site is somehow able to show us some brief information about Red Tail Hawk. I personally haven’t seen any Red Tail Hawk in real life, but really hope that I can have a chance some time in future.