Red-tailed Hawk

Family: Accipitridae

Average annual sightings on Hawk Hill: 8693; Hawk Hill sightings peak mid-September and again in early November

Total banded by GGRO as of 2018: 10,324

Size: length 22 inches; wingspan 50 inches

Key Field Marks: black patagial marks, often light belly band and hood

Adult: buffy/light orange upper breast, brick-red occasionally barred tail
Juvenile: gray-brown banded tail, square wing window (compare Red-shoulder’s crescent), ivory upper breast (“medallion”)

Flight: soaring, gliding, stilling, heavy flap, slight dihedral with “fingers” raised up

(Average annual sightings based on 2006-2017 data; 2010 and 2013 data not included due to partial seasons)

A GGRO volunteer releases a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk after banding.

Emily Abernathy/GGRO Volunteer

An adult Red-tailed Hawk captures a squirrel in its talons

Jenni Peters/GGRO Volunteer

A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk is photographed before release.

Phoebe Parker Shames/GGRO Volunteer

Adult Red-tailed Hawk in flight

Jenni Peters/GGRO Volunteer