Red-tailed Hawk

Description:

Overall, this species is blocky and broad in shape. A whitish underbelly with a dark brown band across the belly, formed by horizontal streaks in feather patterning is present in most color variations. The red tail is uniformly brick-red above and light buff-orange below. The bill is short and dark, in the hooked shape characteristic of raptors, and the head can sometimes appear small in size against the thick body frame. They have a relatively short, broad tails and thick, chunky wings.

Habitat:

The Red-tailed Hawk occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, tropical rainforests, agricultural fields and urban areas. It lives throughout the North American continent, except in the high arctic.