Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
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General Description: Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are large hawks that are easy to recognize if you see the red tail. Otherwise, the dark head, bright white breast, dark belly band, and white belly helps to identify them. In flight, they usually have black elbows. Red-tails show several color patterns, and some are difficult to identify. Young birds do not have a red tail. Red-tailed Hawks are part of a group of hawks called Buteos, which includes all members of the genus Buteo and related genera. These hawks are recognized by their broad, rounded wings and soaring behavior. Taxonomy: Accipitriformes, Accipitridae. |
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Favored Habitat: Open deserts with places to perch (e.g., powerpoles) and hunt. Where to Find: Never common, but found in the desert and around cliffs. Watch for Red-tails sitting on powerpoles in the open desert. Comments: |
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If you were a tasty rabbit or a big fat snake, this might be the last face you ever see! |
 Red-tailed Hawk adult on pole: note tail is brick-red above |
 Same bird taking flight from pole: note tail is dull-red below |
 Note the white front |
 Note dark belly-band |
 Even in pale hawks, notice the belly band and a dark head |
 Dark Red-tailed Hawk: note dark belly-band |
 Red-tailed Hawk in a rehab facility, Homosassa Springs, Florida |
 Note mottled pattern on the back |
 Somebody is not happy to see me. |
 Red-tailed Hawk on a red, sandstone cliff in Utah |
 Red-tailed Hawk adult: notice brick-red on upper tail surface |
 Red-tailed Hawk adult: notice brick-red on upper tail surface |
 Red-tailed Hawk on soaring flight |
 Red-tailed Hawk in flight |
 Red-tailed Hawk in flight |
 Red-tailed Hawk adult taking flight |
 Red-tailed Hawk juvenile with mottled pattern on the back |
 Red-tailed Hawk juvenile taking flight |
 Those are some serious hawk toes! |
 Red-tailed Hawk juvenile |
 Pair of Red-tailed Hawks |
 Common Ravens harassing a Red-tailed Hawk |
 American Kestrel male drives Red-tailed Hawk from nest |
 American Kestrel male drives Red-tailed Hawk from nest |
 Red-tailed Hawk on a red, sandstone cliff in Utah |
 Red-tailed Hawk |
 Red-tailed Hawk in a Joshua Tree |
 Stately Red-tailed Hawk standing in a Joshua Tree |
 Red-tailed Hawk stick nest on ledge |
 1. On the ground |
 2. Taking flight |
 3. Notice the curl in the wing tips |
 4. Broad wing with banding |
 5. Heading for the skies |
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 240108
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