Aleta
Aleta is a female Red-tailed Hawk. She came to us in the fall of 2010. Her right wing was sheared off at the wrist, probably from a gunshot.
Pete
Pete was a male Red-tailed Hawk. He was found at the side of I-85 in 2000. Unfortunately, Pete passed away this year (2019), but he is fondly remembered. Although he could fly, because he was missing an eye he lacked the depth perception necessary to hunt successfully.
Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) Facts
Red-tails are large stocky hawks with broad and fairly rounded wings. The tail’s distinctive red color appears in the bird’s 2nd year. Most adults have a belly band of dark streaks on white underparts visible in flight.
Size
Length: 45.7-63.5 cm (18-25 in.)
Wing span: 106.7-137.2 cm (42-54 in.)
Weight: 770-1750 g (1.7-3.8 lbs.)
Habitat
Red-tails can be found throughout the U. S. in a variety of habitats.
Diet
Mostly squirrels and other rodents, but also take rabbits, birds, amphibians, and even insects. Typically hunt from a perch at wood’s edge or by soaring at high altitude looking for prey.
Call
A loud, wheezing, descending kkeeeeerr. Movies and TV programs frequently play red-tail calls while showing eagles, because eagle calls aren’t very impressive.
Nesting
Usually build a nest of sticks in a tall tree in open woodland. 1-3 eggs that hatch in 28-35 days.
Life Expectancy
In the wild: 9-11 years
In captivity: up to 28 years