Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

The most common hawk in North America and one that is easy to identify thanks to its red tail, this bird likes to soar high in the sky, making large circles in search of prey. It can also be found perched on fence posts, utility poles, and on uppermost tree branches, which gives them a good vantage point. Their main source of food are small mammals, and when likely prey is spotted, the hawk swoops down, grabbing it with its talons. This hawk produces the iconic fierce screaming call associated with birds of prey, and recordings are often used in movies for other birds such as Bald Eagles, who in reality have a less menacing higher pitched chirping call.

The eyes become darker in color as the hawk ages, turning a deep brown, while as a juvenile the eyes are a pale gold. The rate at which this shift occurs varies by individual, so the eye color is not the best indicator of age. Some older hawks still have yellow eyes.