Red-Tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk, of the sub-species Buteo, is the most common hawk in North America, and ranges as far as north as northern Canada, and as far south as Panama. They can be found in nearly all habitiats, including the prairies, forests, deserts and even rain forests.
They mate for life, and nest in the same area every year, typically in March through May. When their chicks are hatched, the male hunts for his family, feeding both the chicks and his mate, as she tends to the little ones. The chicks will be ready to be on their own after about 45 days, and will not breed until they are 3 years old.
A red-tailed hawk can grow to as much as 25 inches high, have a wingspan of as much as 52 inches, and weigh between 2-4 pounds. The female is larger than the male, and their eyesight is 8 times the eyesight of a human's. Now you know where the phrase "hawk eye" comes from!
This photograph was taken in Palmer Park, in Colorado Springs.
Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants
happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do
other creatures. - The Dalai Lama
Comments (29)Subscribe to CommentsComment