The Red-tailed Hawk is a great gateway species into birding or hawk watching. Among the large, soaring hawks known as buteos, Red-tails are the most widespread in North America.
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They often hunt along highways, circling overhead or hovering in place as they scan the ground for prey. You’ve probably seen one from a distance, but here is a closer look at this magnificent bird.
Their other namesake is their characteristic reddish-brown tail feathers, a trait shared by many of these hawks—but not all. Juveniles don’t get the red feathers until the start of their second year, instead sporting brown barred tails.
A red-tailed hawk caught what looks like a large gopher snake at the local RC field.The snake puts up a struggle, but resistance is futile. The hawk is going to have a nice breakfast.
I have a red tail hawk nest in my backyard and they are nesting right now. Yesterday one of the parents flew right over me carrying a snake about a foot and a half long…damn I WISH I had my phone with me to video that!!! wow….