Facts about Red-tailed Hawks
Length of Red-tailed Hawks vary from 17 to 22 inches. Their wingspread, depending on the species, ranges from 18 to 26 inches. Their weight ranges from 1.5 to 4.4 pounds. Adults are typically dark brown and the immature ones are gray brown. There are five different species of Hawks in the United states and several more around the world. Their colors vary slightly. They have a quite noticeable shade of red on their tail end. A few species are black, but it is rare. The Red-tailed Hawk reaches sexual maturity at three years of age. Red-tailed hawk will take a new mate when its original mate dies. The "Harlan's Hawk" was once considered a separate species. It breeds in Alaska and northwestern Canada, and winters on the southern Great Plains. This very dark form has a marbled white, brown, and gray tail instead of a red one. Many individuals intermediate between Harlan's and more typical Red-tailed Hawks can be found. The raspy cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is used in movies to represent any eagle or hawk anywhere in the world. In the courtship display a pair of Red-tailed Hawks soars in wide circles at a great height. The male dives down in a steep drop, then shoots up again at nearly as steep an angle. He repeats this maneuver several times, then approaches the female from above. He extends his legs and touches or grasps her briefly. The pair may grab onto one other and may interlock their talons and spiral toward the ground. Red-tailed Hawk's died includes mice, rabbits, other small mammals, reptiles and birds. |
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