Red-tailed hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Class

Aves

Order

Accipitriformes

Family

Accipitridae

Genus

buteo

Despite being one of the largest birds in North America, big females only weigh about 3 pounds making them incredibly adapt for flight. You can find these birds in almost every open habitat including deserts, grasslands, deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as agricultural fields and urban areas. Their diet is mainly small mammals but can include carrion, small birds, and snakes. Thier sharp talons help in hunting can also aid in defending territory. Red-tailed Hawks have been observed to hunt in a pair and typically remain in mating pairs for life.

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