* Threatened or Endangered
Redtail Hawk *
: Buteo jamaicensis
: Bird
: Found throughout the North American continent, except in heavy forests and the arctic
: small mammals, birds, snakes, lizards and fish if available
: Weight 2 to 5 lbs., wingspread 43 to 57 inches
: One of the most common hawks in North America and, like all hawks, protected by the Migratory Bird Act
Also sometimes called “chicken hawk” due to the mistaken belief that they regularly hunt chickens, there are at least 14 recognized subspecies. Redtail Hawks soar much of the time but when hunting can reach speeds of up to 120 mph in a dive. This hawk is successful in large part because it tolerates a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, forests, some tropical rain forests, agricultural fields and urban areas.
Report all poachers, and do not take in injured wildlife. If you come across an injured raptor, call the North Dakota Game and Fish, local US Fish and Wildlife Services, or the Dakota Zoo so someone can help. Another way you can help is to donate to the Dakota Zoo Conservation Fund, which supports our Raptor Rehabilitation Program. You can learn more by following these links:
www.dakotazoo.org/education/raptor-rehabilitation/
gf.nd.gov/rap