-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.