A red-tailed hawk was observed by Bob Quinn on June 4, 2000 The bird, an immature form, was flying above the "phantom parking lots."
The red-tailed hawk is a large bird. Adults may be
.5 m long, with a wingspan of 1.5 meters. The female is nearly 1/3
larger than the male. In addition
to its size, broad wings and red-colored tail, other identifying
characteristics of the hawk are its dark-brown back and wing tops,
and its lighter underside, which has a cinnamon wash on the neck and
chest, and a dark band across the belly. The red color of the broad,
rounded tail can best be seen as the bird soars overhead.
Red-tails feed on many different types of prey,
but their diet is about 80% small rodents such as mice and moles. For
this reason, they are considered to be one of our most beneficial
hawks.
Credits: The photograph of the red-tailed hawk was
taken by Victor Fazio. It appears on the
Birds of
Ohio Web Site.
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