The day may have been misty and overcast but I couldn’t resist stopping and taking a picture of this Red-Tailed Hawk next to the road. Not the best picture but a certain “winterish” feel to the scene. The hawk tends to meld into the background but without leaves on the tree, one can see the size and feel the weight of such a bird.
Red-Tailed Hawk
The Red Tailed Hawk typically weighs from 690 to 1600 grams (1.5 to 3.5 pounds) and measures 45–65 cm (18 to 26 in) in length, with a wingspan from 110 to 145 cm (43 to 57 in).
It is legally protected in Canada, Mexico and the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Because they are so common and easily trained as capable hunters, the majority of hawks captured for falconry in the United States are Red-tails.
In flight, this hawk soars with wings in a slight dihedral, flapping as little as possible to conserve energy. Active flight is slow and deliberate, with deep wing beats. In wind, it occasionally hovers on beating wings and remains stationary above the ground. When soaring or flapping its wings, it typically travels from 20 to 40 mph (64 km/h), but when diving may exceed 120 mph (190 km/h). When the Red-tailed Hawk walks, its steps are slow and awkward.
Because of its robust crispness, a certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is a cliché cinematic sound effect. This high, piercing scream is often featured in the background of adventure movies to give a sense of wilderness to the scene. However, the cry is often inaccurately used for the Bald Eagle, whose own vocalizations are quite different and less robust.
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Dec 13, 10:57 AM by Timothy Stark Raisbeck
