Red-tailed hawks come in many colors, from nearly white to black. A 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 is 18 to 26 inches long and has a wingspan of about 4 feet. Male red-tailed hawks weigh between about 1.5 and 2.9 pounds, and female red-tailed hawks are larger than males.

Red-tailed hawks live across North America and into Central America. They live in many kinds of places, including deserts, plains, woodlands and rain forests. Red-tailed hawks like open land with high places to perch. Red-tailed hawks from the far north fly south for the winter, while many others stay in one place all year. Red-tailed hawks have learned to nest in cities.

A red-tailed hawk has excellent eyesight, and it can spot a mouse from 100 feet up in the air. 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 does most of its hunting from a perch, and 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, and red-tailed hawks also eat reptiles and other birds. Red-tailed hawks are active during the day. Red-tailed hawks make big nests of sticks high up in trees, and a red-tailed hawk nest can be up to 3 feet across.

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

Words to know

• soaring: gliding high
• talons: sharp claws
• woodlands: forest areas