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 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. It can spot a mouse from 100 feet up in the air. It does most of its hunting from a perch. Red-tailed hawks are often seen perched on poles and signs beside roads.

A red-tailed hawk dives down and grabs its food in its talons. Red-tailed hawks eat mostly small mammals, such as mice. They also eat reptiles and other birds. Red-tailed hawks live across North America and into Central America. They like open land with high places to perch.

Red-tailed hawks make big nests of sticks high up in trees. A female red-tailed hawk lays one to five eggs. Red-tailed hawks may mate for life. Both parents care for their chicks.

Words to know

• soaring: gliding high
• perch: high seat
• talons: sharp claws
• wingspan: wing width