Red-Tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

By: Vicente Correia

    The red-tailed hawk is a common bird that is named for its cinnamon-red tail. Its Latin name is Buteo jamaicensis, which means buzzard-hawk that was first studied in Jamaica. It is often seen soaring in the sky or perching high up on trees, buildings, or telephone poles and lives in open country, woodlands, mountains, roadsides, and plains. The red-tailed hawk is dark on top and lighter underneath with a dark band across its chest. Its talons and sharp beaks are ideal for hunting animals such as rodents, snakes, and smaller birds. The red-tailed hawk is a top-notch predator with a highly efficient and effective strategy where it dive-bombs its prey with its talons outstretched. This hawk is an awesome bird that continues to thrive with its population at 2,000,000 and continuing to rise.