Red-tailed hawks earn their name due to their iconic red tail that can be seen whether they’re perched or in flight. As juveniles, red-tailed hawks look very similar to adults, but their eyes are a bright yellow, and their overall coloration is lighter. As they grow, the feathers on their wings will darken to an auburn or dark brown, a single black stripe will appear across their tail feathers, and their eyes will become dark brown.

These hawks are found throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America. In the U.S., this species is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. And if you’d like to share a fun fact about red-tailed hawks, here’s one of our favorites: the call or screech you hear bald eagles make in movies is actually a red-tailed hawk!

Downloads

Our Current Resident