Sep 20, 2018
Red-Tailed Hawk
*This is an excerpt from Common Birds of Prey of Alabama, ANR – 1386.
Almost anyone who has ever taken a long car ride has probably seen a red-tailed hawk. This species, which is frequently seen perched along telephone lines or in trees, is one of the most common raptors in the United States. Though there are several subspecies, all of them can be identified by the reddish orange tail for which the species is named. Other identifying features include a pale breast and underwings with brown belly bands and primary tips, and a brown head, back, and wings. At an average weight of almost 3 pounds, red-tailed hawks are one of the largest hawk species east of the Mississippi River. Feeding primarily on small mammals, red-tailed hawks are found in tall trees near agricultural fields and other openings where prey is abundant.
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Download a PDF of Common Birds of Prey of Alabama, ANR – 1386.
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