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 in 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