The red-tailed hawk is named for the reddish color of its tail, and many red-tailed hawks have a lighter belly with a dark band across it. A red-tailed hawk has a wingspan of about 4 feet. Female red-tailed hawks are larger than male red-tailed hawks. An adult red-tailed hawk has a raspy, screeching call.

Red-tailed hawks are built for soaring. A red-tailed hawk scans the ground for food by soaring in wide circles or by perching on a tree or telephone pole. A red-tailed hawk has excellent eyesight, and a red-tailed hawk can spot a mouse from 100 feet up in the air.

A red-tailed hawk does most of its hunting from a perch. Red-tailed hawks are often seen perched on poles and signs beside roads. Red-tailed hawks like open land with high places to perch. Red-tailed hawks are active during the day.

A red-tailed hawk dives down, and the red-tailed hawk grabs its food in its talons. Red-tailed hawks eat mostly small mammals, such as mice, and red-tailed hawks also eat reptiles and other birds.

Red-tailed hawks live across North America and into Central America. Red-tailed hawks make big nests of sticks high up in trees. A red-tailed hawk nest can be up to 3 feet across, and a pair of red-tailed hawks uses the same nest year after year.

A female red-tailed hawk lays one to five eggs. The eggs of a red-tailed hawk are kept warm for 28 to 35 days before they hatch. Young red-tailed hawks leave the nest after 42 to 46 days. Red-tailed hawks may mate for life, and both red-tailed hawk parents care for their chicks.

Words to know

• soaring: gliding high
• talons: sharp claws
• wingspan: wing width
• hatch: leave the egg

The short version

A red-tailed hawk is named for the reddish color of its tail. It lives across North America and into Central America. It does most of its hunting from a perch and eats mostly small mammals, such as mice. It makes a big nest of sticks high up in a tree.

Quick facts

• A red-tailed hawk is named for the reddish color of its tail.
• A red-tailed hawk has a wingspan of about 4 feet.
• Red-tailed hawks live across North America and into Central America.
• Female red-tailed hawks are larger than males.
• Young red-tailed hawks leave the nest after 42 to 46 days.