Red-tailed Hawks at High Park: February 8, 2022

The Latin name for a Red-tailed Hawk is Buteo jamaicensis which tells us that the species has a large range. They are found in much of Mexico, most of the Caribbean and most of North America except for the far north. Here is a list of their diet from the Cornell Lab. website:

Mammals make up the bulk of most Red-tailed Hawk meals. Frequent victims include voles, mice, wood rats, rabbits, snowshoe hares, jackrabbits, and ground squirrels. The hawks also eat birds, including pheasants, bobwhite, starlings, and blackbirds; as well as snakes and carrion. Individual prey items can weigh anywhere from less than an ounce to more than 5 pounds.

We found several this morning in High Park.