Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

The Red-tailed Hawk (buteo jamaicensis) is one one of three birds known colloquially as a “chicken hawk”. It is found throughout all but the northern extremes of North America, down to Panama and the West Indies. It prefers to nest in a high tree, up to 120′ high.  It’s preferred diet is small mammals, such as squirrels, rabbits, mice, and other rodents. It will also eat insects, birds up to the size of a pheasant, bats, frogs, toads, and other reptiles. At times, it will even eat  carrion.

Family: Hawks and Eagles