Marshall I. Diggs Conservation Area is in Audrain and Montgomery counties, 3.5 miles southwest of Wellsville. To reach the area take Highway ZZ to Route RA.
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Scientific Name
Buteo jamaicensis
Family
Accipitridae (hawks and eagles) in the order Accipitriformes
Description
The red-tailed hawk is a large hawk and probably the most common hawk in North America. It is brown above and white below, often with a brown-streaked band on the belly. Adults have a rust-red tail with a narrow black band near the end. In flight, the front edges of the underwing have a dark oblong patch, contrasting with the lighter wing linings. Several other color morphs of this species can be seen in Missouri, especially in winter, ranging from almost entirely dark brown to very pale. Albino birds are also occasionally seen. Immature birds are similar to adults except that the tail is brown with narrow dark bars.
Like other hawks in the genus Buteo, red-tailed hawks are built for soaring, with broad wings and relatively short tails.
Red-tailed hawks have a shrill, raspy scream that is commonly used on television and in movies to depict the voice of any large raptor, including eagles.
Size
Length: 22 inches (tip of bill to tip of tail); wingspan: 50 inches. Females are larger than males.
Where To Find
Statewide.
Habitat and Conservation
Red-tailed hawks prefer open habitat. They are often observed along highways, perched on a fence post, telephone pole, tree, or hay bale, from which they watch for prey.
Usually this species nests in open woodlands or in trees in a grassland and cropland area. They may nest within city limits, especially along larger highways that have grass-covered median strips for foraging. This species, along with all other native birds, is protected by federal and state laws.
Food
Red-tailed hawks mainly eat mammals. Common prey items include rabbits, squirrels, voles, mice, wood rats, and snakes. They also eat carrion and occasionally take small birds. Red-tails hunt either by soaring and diving on prey or by watching from a perch and swooping down on the prey.
Status
Common permanent resident and migrant statewide; most abundant during the winter months.
Life Cycle
Life Cycle
Pairs may stay together for years on the same territory. Nesting is in mid-March (the earliest nesting time of all Missouri hawks). Nests are typically built in the crowns of tall trees, but sometimes on cliff ledges, window ledges, or billboards. They may build a new nest of sticks and bark or renovate the same nest used the year before. Nests that have been used for years may be 3 or more feet high.
Usually 2–3 eggs are laid, but the number can range from 1–5. Nestlings fledge about 42–45 days after hatching.
The parents usually bring fresh greenery to the nest — sprigs of leaves or pine needles — until the young birds leave the nest. The fresh greens repel parasites and help hide the nestlings.
Human Connections
Red-tailed hawks are often used in falconry. Many Native American tribes consider these hawks and their feathers as sacred. Many American commuters enjoy seeing these “highway hawks” on their roadside perches.
Ecosystem Connections
Primarily preying on rodents and other small mammals, red-tailed hawks play a vital role in controlling their populations. They and other hawk species will occasionally prey upon small birds, but they take far fewer than the millions of birds domestic and feral cats kill each year.
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Media Gallery
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The red-tailed hawk is a common permanent resident in Missouri.
Credit
Anonymous
Right to Use
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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A key to identifying adult red-tailed hawks in flight is the rufous tail.
Right to Use
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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Red-tailed hawks are large, commonly seen raptors in Missouri.
Right to Use
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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Many American commuters enjoy seeing these “highway hawks” on their roadside perches.
Right to Use
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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Credit
Larry R. Beckett
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Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
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Credit
Larry R. Beckett
Right to Use
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
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Video of a red-tailed hawk.
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Krider's Red-tailed Hawk, Kansas City, MO
Credit
Submitted by Rick Frazier
Right to Use
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
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Similar Species
Similar Species
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Where to See Species
James D. Christie Conservation Area and The Eva Neely Davis Memorial Conservation Area are located in Andrew County. In 1915, James D.
F.O. and Leda J. Sears Memorial Wildlife Area (Sears WA) is 3.5 miles north of Rush Hill on Route B.
The access is about 10 miles downstream from Dunn Ford Access and provides a convenient destination for a day's float.
About Birds in Missouri
About 350 species of birds are likely to be seen in Missouri, though nearly 400 have been recorded within our borders. Most people know a bird when they see one — it has feathers, wings, and a bill. Birds are warm-blooded, and most species can fly. Many migrate hundreds or thousands of miles. Birds lay hard-shelled eggs (often in a nest), and the parents care for the young. Many communicate with songs and calls.
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