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Buteo jamaicensis
Red-tailed Hawks are large hawks with typical Buteo proportions: very broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Most Red-tailed Hawks are rich brown above and pale below, with a streaked belly and, on the wing underside, a dark bar between shoulder and wrist. The tail is usually pale below and cinnamon-red above, though in young birds it’s brown and banded. Immature birds are duller, more streaked, and light brown tail with some dark barring. Juvenile ID marks - look for the belly band, its a great indicator that you have a red-tailed. I also look typically for the mottling on the back and white scapular V.
On a wire, Stewart Road on Galveston Island, TX.
Thanks Cody for the help and information. I still am not confident with juvenile hawks and when I am out of my area, reluctant to call an ID.
Hey Gator - on hawks in this area, you can almost always assume they are going to be Red-tailed ;-), but for the sake of ID marks - look for the belly band, its a great indicator that you have a red-tailed. I also look typically for the mottling on the back and white scapular V. Right now there is a rough legged hawk on Galveston down in San louis pass, but this is distinguished, along with Ferruginous hawk also rare down here, by having feathered legs.
Spotted on Mar 1, 2013
Submitted on Mar 12, 2013
