Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
 |
Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) at the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, Sitka, Alaska. This red-tailed hawk had many congenital abnormalities and could not be released into the wild. This is a rufous morph red-tailed hawk. Also see the Red-Tailed Hawk page.
Buteos have relatively broad wings and short tails, and spend much time in soaring. Most feed on mammals, but some species prefer reptiles and amphibians, some feed on birds, and smaller species feed on insects. The most common North American buteo is the red-tailed hawk, found from Alaska to Central America. Adults have rufous tails and dark brown upperparts; the underparts vary from almost white to chocolate brown. The nest, of sticks, is built high up in trees. Three or four eggs are usually laid in early spring; they are dull white, often heavily marked with brown. "Buteo," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation.