Red-Tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
North America's most common hawk, often seen perched on poles along highways watching for rodents.
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About the Red-Tailed Hawk
Red-tailed hawks have broad, rounded wings, a short, wide tail and a wingspan of about 4 feet. Most are brown on the back with a pale, streaked belly, and adults have a red tail. Females are about 25 percent bigger than males. They live from Canada to Central America in open areas with perches like treetops, fence posts and lamp posts.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Buteo jamaicensis[1]
- Size
- Wingspan about 4 feet.[1]
- Weight
- Males 1.5 to 2.9 pounds; females 2 to 3.2 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- About 20 years in the wild.[1]
- Diet
- Carnivore. Mostly small mammals, plus reptiles and birds.[1]
- Habitat
- Open areas with scattered perches, forest edges and grasslands.[1]
- Where it lives
- North America, from Canada to Central America.[1]
- Babies
- 1 to 5 eggs.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2024).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- raptor
- A bird of prey, such as a hawk, eagle, vulture or owl.
- talon
- A sharp, curved claw on a bird of prey.
- soar
- To glide high in the air without flapping.
- molt
- To shed an old outer covering, like skin or feathers, and grow a new one.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Oakland ZooOakland, California · Animal AmbassadorsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Oakland Zoo. “Red-tailed Hawk.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/red-tailed-hawk/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Buteo jamaicensis (Red-tailed Hawk).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22695933/264594226 (accessed 2026-10-02)
Facts last checked 2026-10-02.
