Image: 4548 red tail hawk nest odfw (4438948012)

Description: -Photo by Kathy Munsel, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife- Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) One of the most familiar sights along the roads of Oregon is a Red-tailed Hawk soaring high on the sky over a field, or perched on a utility pole, waiting patiently for prey. Red-tailed Hawks are large-bodied raptors with relatively broad wings. The back is mottled brown, and the tail of mature birds is orangish red with a thin, dark subterminal band. Perched birds can be identified from behind even when the tail is concealed by the white mottling on the scapulars forming a faint 'V'. Most individuals can be assigned to one of two color morphs, light or dark. Both are similar from the back, but underneath the light-morph birds are largely white of off-white with a belly band of varying extent and darkness. It is found throughout the state in every habitat and at every elevation, though they are scarce in more densely forested areas. Photo above: A redtail hawk nests on the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, May 2009
Title: 4548 red tail hawk nest odfw (4438948012)
Credit: 4548_red_tail_hawk_nest_odfw
Author: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes