Red tailed hawks are a common bird of the Rocky Mountains. Here are 6 facts about this beautiful bird that you’ve probably seen flying or perched.
I remember first hearing about red tailed hawks back when I was studying at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Some friends were doing some bird rehabilitation work on them that sounded pretty cool. Since then I’ve seen them everywhere, including almost anytime I take a road trip in the west. They are often just perched on fences or tall trees along the highway. Here are some basic facts about these cool, common birds.
6 Red Tailed Hawk Facts
This is the most common hawk in North America. They are a beautiful bird that looks quite distinctive. From above they appear mostly brown, but from below they are whitish with brown spots and streaks. Their tail is their most distinctive feature as its reddish from the top.
These birds migrate during the cold winters of the Rocky Mountains. However, they are only partial migrators. That means not all of them head south during the winters. Some of them leave the Rockies and others stay put over the winters. The ones that head south during the winter start their journey back north during February.
Red tailed hawks are large birds, up to 20 inches tall. Despite their large size they are excellent flyers. They weigh less than five pounds! A similarly sized dog would weigh ten times that!
In the springtime these birds put on an impressive courtship display. Two birds will be seen soaring in wide circles, higher and higher. The male will dive down and then swoop back up. Finally, he’ll come to the female from above her, grab her and mate. As the two hawks are mating they will plummet towards the earth before letting go and flying again before they hit the ground. It’s a pretty crazy way to mate and unforgettable if you see it! Once they find a mate they stay together for life, or at least until one of them dies.
These hawks are carnivores and can live for a long time (up to 21 years old). They like to eat small animals such as rodents and rabbits. However, they will also eat snakes, voles, squirrels, and even birds! Most of their prey weighs from a few ounces up to 5 pounds!
Red tailed hawks live mainly in the open country. They can often be seen perched on tall trees by fields or along fences. Or you may see them soaring overhead, searching for food.