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Difference between revisions of "Red-tailed Hawk" - BirdForum Opus

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;''Buteo jamaicensis''
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[[Image:Red-tailed_Hawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|gene|gene}}<br /> [[Illinois]], [[USA]], 28 February 2004]]
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[[Image:Red-tailed_Hawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by gene<br>Photo taken in Illinois, USA]]
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;[[:Category:Buteo|Buteo]] jamaicensis
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==Identification==
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[[Image:43440690095 6e64278b8c o.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Kadawe|Kadawe}}<br />New England, 29 August 2018]]
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'''Adult:''' Length 48cm (19in).  Wingspan 125cm (49in). <br />
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A large, stocky hawk with a whitish breast with dark band, usually rusty tail, and dark leading edge on wing ([[Dictionary P-S#P|patagial mark]] -- seen during flight). 
 +
 
 +
This species is quite variable in colour, especially in the western U.S., where blackish individuals occur; these often retain a rusty or reddish tail.  One of the most diagnostic field marks is the "cumberbund"; an area on the middle breast that is usually streaked darker than the rest of the underbody.<br />
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'''Immature''': Duller, more streaked, and light brown tail with some dark barring.
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====Variations====
  
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==Identification==
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Krider's Hawk (subspecies ''krideri)'' is a pink-tailed type from the great plains.
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A large stocky hawk that has a typical light-phase with a whitish breast and rust-colored tail. Young birds are duller, more streaked and lack rust-colored tail of the adult, instead showing a light brown tail wih some dark barring. They are told apart from [[Red-shouldered Hawk]] and [[Swainson's Hawk]] by their white chest, stocky build, and broader, more rounded wings. This species is quite variable in colour, especially in the West, where blackish individuals occur; these oftn retain a rusty or reddish tail.  One of the most reliable indicators is dark leading edges of the wings, seen in flight.
 
  
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====Similar Species====
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[[Image:Rthawk-imm.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature bird showing the first red tail feather molting in<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|gophish|gophish}}<br /> Waterford, [[New York]], [[USA]], 11 January 2010]]
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* [[Swainson's Hawk]] has darker chest, less stocky build, and narrower, more pointed wings. However, Harlan's Hawk, ''harlani'', a very dark morph easily confused with the [[Swainson's Hawk]].
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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Year-round over most of the U.S. and Mexico; summers northward throughout the Canadian Provinces and insland Alaska.
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Year-round over most of the [[U.S.]] and [[Mexico]]; summers northward throughout the Canadian Provinces and inland [[Alaska]].
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==Taxonomy==
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====Subspecies====
  
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==Taxonomy==
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There are 14 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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'''Kingdom''': Animalia-> '''Phylum''': Chordata-> '''Class''': Aves -> '''Order''': Falconiformes-> '''Family''': Accipitridae-> '''Genus''': Buteo -> '''Species''': B. jamaicensis''
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*''B. j. alascensis'': south-eastern [[Alaska]] and coastal [[British Columbia]]
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*''B. j. calurus'' (Western): Western [[North America]] (west of the Great Plains)
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*''B. j. borealis'' (Eastern): [[North America]] (east of the Great Plains)
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*''B. j. harlani'' (Harlan's): Interior [[Alaska]] to south-western [[Yukon]] and northern [[British Columbia]]
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*''B. j. kriderii'' (Krider's): Plains of south-central [[Canada]] to north-central [[US]]
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*''B. j. fuertesi'' (Fuertes's): [[Texas]] to northern [[Mexico]]
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*''B. j. hadropus'': Highlands of central [[Mexico]]
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*''B. j. kemsiesi'': Southern [[Mexico]] ([[Chiapas]]) to northern [[Nicaragua]]
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*''B. j. costaricensis'' (Costa Rican): [[Costa Rica]] and western [[Panama]]
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*''B. j. fumosus'': Tres Marías Islands (off western [[Mexico]])
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*''B. j. socorroensis'': Socorro Island (Revillagigedo Islands off western [[Mexico]])
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*''B. j. umbrinus'': [[Florida]]
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*''B. j. jamaicensis'': [[Jamaica]], [[Hispaniola]], [[Puerto Rico]] and northern [[Lesser Antilles]]
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*''B. j. solitudinis'': [[Bahamas]] and [[Cuba]]
  
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Five races: Krider's ''(krideri)'' is a pink-tailed Great Plains race; ''borealis'' in the east, ''fuertesi'' in the Southwest, ''calurus'' in the west, and Harlon's Hawk, ''harlani'', very dark morph easily confused with the Swainson's Hawk.
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Two additional subspecies: ''suttoni'', and ''lucasanus'' are not recognised by all authorities<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>.
  
 +
Harlan's Hawk (subspecies ''harlani'') has in the past been considered a separate species, and proposals have been put forward to adopt that treatment again.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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The most common hawk on the NA continent, B. Jamaicensis frequents woodland edges, soars above plains, is often seen perched on utility poles where natural perches are not available.
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[[File:Red-tailed_Hawk_Kriders_SJ.jpg |thumb|350px|right| Kriders – ''Buteo jamaicensis kriderii''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />Chambers County, [[Texas]], [[USA]], 1 February 2021]]
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The most common hawk on the North America continent, B. Jamaicensis frequents woodland edges, soars above plains, and is often seen perched on utility poles where natural perches are not available.
 +
==Behaviour==
  
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==Behaviour==
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====Actions====
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Soars or perches, looking for a wide variety of food; small to medium mammals, lizards, frogs, worms, insects, bats, and small birds. Monogamous.
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Often "still hunts" or "kites" by hanging motionless in mid-air.
 +
====Diet====
 +
Soars or perches, looking for a wide variety of food; small to medium mammals, lizards, frogs, worms, insects, bats, and small birds.
 +
====Breeding====
 +
[[File:Red-tailed_Hawk_BreastBelly_VCTR.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Breast & Belly View<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Victor+Vector|Victor Vector}}<br />Mojave Narrow Regional Park, [[California]], [[USA]], 30 April 2021]]
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[[Dictionary_M-O#M|Monogamous]]. They construct a stick nest in trees or cliffs. Clutch of two or three whitish eggs marked indistinctly marked with darker blotches combined with fine speckling.
 +
====Vocalisation====
 +
Common call is a 2–3 second hoarse scream that rises gradually then descends near the end.
 +
====Movements====
 +
[[Image:Red-tailed Hawk melanistic with some leucism Marlin.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''harlani''<br />Melanistic with some leucism<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />Marlin, Falls County, [[Texas]], [[USA]], 4 February 2019]]
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Variable: sedentary from southern USA to south edge of range in Central America and Caribbean; migratory in Northern part of range.
  
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==Conservation Status==
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[[Image:IMG 86051.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|bailiff1|bailiff1}}<br />Bessemer, [[Alabama]], [[USA]], 16 November 2015]]
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Common and plentiful, some decline due to habitat loss, although it adapts relatively easily to new environments, even urban.  Many are still shot illegally for amusement.
 +
==References==
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#Lepage D. (2021) [Avibase -  https://avibase.ca/536A5157 ]. Retrieved 9 February 2021
 +
# [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=131969 Thread] in the taxonomy forum discussing Harlan's Hawk
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#White, C.M., Boesman, P. & Marks, J.S. (2019). Red-tailed Hawk (''Buteo jamaicensis''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53135 on 25 November 2019).
 +
#Global Raptor Information Network. 2019. Species account: Red-tailed Hawk ''Buteo jamaicensis''. Downloaded from http://www.globalraptors.org on 25 Nov. 2019
 +
#Clark, W. S. 2018. Taxonomic status of Harlan’s Hawk ''Buteo jamaicensis harlani'' (Aves: Accipitriformes). Zootaxa 4425 (2): 223–242. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4425.2.2
 +
#Liguori, J., and B. L. Sullivan. 2010. Comparison of Harlan’s Hawks with western and eastern Red-tailed Hawks. Birding 42:30-37.
 +
#Preston, C. R. and R. D. Beane (2020). Red-tailed Hawk (''Buteo jamaicensis''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.rethaw.01
 +
{{ref}}
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Buteo+jamaicensis}}  
 
{{GSearch|Buteo+jamaicensis}}  
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[[Category:Birds]]
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<br />
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{{Video|Red_tailed_Hawk}}
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Buteo]] [[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 13:42, 6 May 2021

Photo © by gene
Illinois, USA, 28 February 2004
Buteo jamaicensis

Identification

Juvenile
Photo © by Kadawe
New England, 29 August 2018

Adult: Length 48cm (19in). Wingspan 125cm (49in).
A large, stocky hawk with a whitish breast with dark band, usually rusty tail, and dark leading edge on wing (patagial mark -- seen during flight).

This species is quite variable in colour, especially in the western U.S., where blackish individuals occur; these often retain a rusty or reddish tail. One of the most diagnostic field marks is the "cumberbund"; an area on the middle breast that is usually streaked darker than the rest of the underbody.
Immature: Duller, more streaked, and light brown tail with some dark barring.

Variations

Krider's Hawk (subspecies krideri) is a pink-tailed type from the great plains.

Similar Species

Immature bird showing the first red tail feather molting in
Photo © by gophish
Waterford, New York, USA, 11 January 2010
  • Swainson's Hawk has darker chest, less stocky build, and narrower, more pointed wings. However, Harlan's Hawk, harlani, a very dark morph easily confused with the Swainson's Hawk.

Distribution

Year-round over most of the U.S. and Mexico; summers northward throughout the Canadian Provinces and inland Alaska.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 14 subspecies[1]:

Two additional subspecies: suttoni, and lucasanus are not recognised by all authorities[2].

Harlan's Hawk (subspecies harlani) has in the past been considered a separate species, and proposals have been put forward to adopt that treatment again.

Habitat

Kriders – Buteo jamaicensis kriderii
Photo © by Stanley Jones
Chambers County, Texas, USA, 1 February 2021

The most common hawk on the North America continent, B. Jamaicensis frequents woodland edges, soars above plains, and is often seen perched on utility poles where natural perches are not available.

Behaviour

Actions

Often "still hunts" or "kites" by hanging motionless in mid-air.

Diet

Soars or perches, looking for a wide variety of food; small to medium mammals, lizards, frogs, worms, insects, bats, and small birds.

Breeding

Breast & Belly View
Photo © by Victor Vector
Mojave Narrow Regional Park, California, USA, 30 April 2021

Monogamous. They construct a stick nest in trees or cliffs. Clutch of two or three whitish eggs marked indistinctly marked with darker blotches combined with fine speckling.

Vocalisation

Common call is a 2–3 second hoarse scream that rises gradually then descends near the end.

Movements

Subspecies harlani
Melanistic with some leucism
Photo © by Stanley Jones
Marlin, Falls County, Texas, USA, 4 February 2019

Variable: sedentary from southern USA to south edge of range in Central America and Caribbean; migratory in Northern part of range.

Conservation Status

Photo © by bailiff1
Bessemer, Alabama, USA, 16 November 2015

Common and plentiful, some decline due to habitat loss, although it adapts relatively easily to new environments, even urban. Many are still shot illegally for amusement.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Lepage D. (2021) [Avibase - https://avibase.ca/536A5157 ]. Retrieved 9 February 2021
  3. Thread in the taxonomy forum discussing Harlan's Hawk
  4. White, C.M., Boesman, P. & Marks, J.S. (2019). Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53135 on 25 November 2019).
  5. Global Raptor Information Network. 2019. Species account: Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis. Downloaded from http://www.globalraptors.org on 25 Nov. 2019
  6. Clark, W. S. 2018. Taxonomic status of Harlan’s Hawk Buteo jamaicensis harlani (Aves: Accipitriformes). Zootaxa 4425 (2): 223–242. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4425.2.2
  7. Liguori, J., and B. L. Sullivan. 2010. Comparison of Harlan’s Hawks with western and eastern Red-tailed Hawks. Birding 42:30-37.
  8. Preston, C. R. and R. D. Beane (2020). Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.rethaw.01

Recommended Citation

External Links


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