redhawk

1. Bird Name
The bird we are profiling is commonly known as the Red Hawk. Its scientific name is Buteo jamaicensis.

2. Appearance
Red Hawks are gorgeous creatures, particularly known for their vibrant red-brown coloration on their back and wings. They have a lighter, typically cream-color underbelly with a distinctive, broad, brick-red tail. They have a hook-shaped beak for tearing flesh, and can be easily identified because of the dark patagials, or “wrist” markings on their wings. Their eyes are a piercing brown. There’s not a significant difference in the appearance of males and females, although males are generally a bit smaller.

3. Size
On average, Red Hawks have a length of 18–26 in (45–65 cm) and a wingspan ranging between 43 and 57 inches. In terms of weight, females are marginally heavier than males, with females weighing in between 2.0-3.2 lb and males weighing 1.5-2.5 lb.

4. Habitat & Distribution
Red Hawks tend to prefer open country, woodlands or desert areas. These birds are native to and most commonly found in North America, but their range extends from western Alaska and northern Canada to Panama and the West Indies. They are also visible year-round in parks and cityscapes.

5. Interesting Facts
Some interesting facts about the Red Hawk include their broad diet. They feed on a wide range of prey, from small mammals to birds and reptiles – even insects. Another interesting fact is that the Red Hawk mates for life, and they reuse their nests each year, adding new materials each breeding season.

6. Diet
Red Hawks are opportunistic feeders, which means their diet can vary widely. However, they primarily eat small mammals such as mice, voles, squirrels and rabbits. They also eat birds, snakes, and insects depending on their availability.

7. Behavior & Sounds
Red Hawks are routinely seen soaring in wide circles high above the ground in open areas. Their nests are built high above ground, usually in the tallest available trees. The bird has a distinct call; a piercing, drawn-out scream often transcribed as “kee-eeeee-arr”.

8. Conservation Status
Red Hawks are currently of the ‘Least Concern’ according to the IUCN Red List, although the impact of habitat destruction and shootings in some areas is a potential threat to their numbers.

9. Lifespan
Red Hawks have an average lifespan of 21 years in the wild, though captive Red Hawks have been known to live up to 29 years.

10. Additional Notes
There are over a dozen subspecies of Red Hawks across their range, each adapted to their local habitats. Red Hawks play a crucial role in ecosystems as effective control of rodent populations, which carries benefits for humans and nature alike. The interplay between these hawks and humans has been storied, with the bird often featuring in the folklore and myths of Native American cultures.