Buteo jamaicensis
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| Buteo jamaicensis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Red-tailed hawk |
| Status | LC |
| Status system | IUCN3.1 |
| Genus | Buteo |
| Species | jamaicensis |
| Authority | (Gmelin, 1788) |
Buteo jamaicensis is a widespread raptor native to North America, recognized for its broad wings and distinctive reddish tail; it occupies diverse regions from Alaska to Panama and is prominent in urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. The species has been the subject of study by ornithologists associated with institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and American Ornithological Society, and appears in cultural contexts including works by John James Audubon, the National Audubon Society, and various state wildlife agencies.
Taxonomy and nomenclature
Described in 1788 by Johann Friedrich Gmelin and placed in the genus Buteo, the species has been treated variably in taxonomies by the International Ornithologists' Union, the American Ornithologists' Union, and regional checklists such as those by the Royal Ontario Museum and the Natural History Museum, London. Subspecies concepts have been debated among researchers at universities including Harvard University, University of British Columbia, and University of California, Berkeley, with molecular studies involving laboratories at University of Michigan and University of Washington informing revisions. Historic common names used in field guides by Roger Tory Peterson, Sibley Guides, and National Geographic contrast with vernacular names recorded by ethno-ornithologists affiliated with Smithsonian Folkways and tribal groups such as the Haida and Lakota.
Description
Adults show considerable plumage variation described in monographs from the British Ornithologists' Union and field guides by Kenn Kaufman; typical birds possess a rufous tail, streaked belly band, and a dark patagial patch noted by illustrators like John Gould and Audubon. Morphometric data reported by researchers at institutions including University of California, Los Angeles, McGill University, and Yale University indicate sexual dimorphism with females larger than males, a pattern also reported in studies published through the Royal Society and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Juvenile plumages and molt schedules documented by the British Trust for Ornithology and the Canadian Wildlife Service resemble descriptions in captive care manuals from the National Zoo and rehabilitation centers such as The Peregrine Fund.
Distribution and habitat
The species inhabits ecoregions ranging from the boreal forests of Yukon and Nunavut to the grasslands of the Great Plains and the deserts of the Sonoran Desert, and winters into regions including Florida, Mexico City, and Nicaragua. Range maps produced by the IUCN and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology display migratory corridors crossing flyways monitored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and banding stations coordinated with the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network. Habitats include edge environments near cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as recorded by urban ecology teams at Columbia University, University of California, Irvine, and University of Chicago.
Behavior and ecology
Territorial behavior and vocalizations have been characterized in studies by researchers from University of Arizona, Oregon State University, and Pennsylvania State University; alarm calls and courtship displays are compared across papers in journals published by the Ecological Society of America and Wiley-Blackwell. Interactions with predators and competitors such as Great Horned Owl, Bald Eagle, and Cooper's Hawk are documented in field reports from agencies like the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and state departments of natural resources. Studies on movement ecology using telemetry and GPS technology were conducted in collaboration with institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and companies such as VECTRONIC Aerospace.
Feeding and diet
Dietary analyses published by teams at University of New Mexico, Texas A&M University, and University of Florida show a generalist predatory niche encompassing mammals like Peromyscus maniculatus and Sylvilagus, birds including Starlings and Pigeons, and reptiles such as Sceloporus species. Foraging strategies—perch-hunting, soaring, and opportunistic scavenging—have been compared to those of Red-shouldered Hawk and Ferruginous Hawk in comparative studies from the American Museum of Natural History and fieldwork by the Raptor Research Foundation. Impacts on prey populations are examined in ecological assessments by the US Geological Survey and university ecology departments at University of Minnesota.
Reproduction and life history
Nesting biology—site fidelity, nest construction using materials reported by Audubon Society volunteers, clutch size, and parental care—has been documented in long-term studies by the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and research programs at University of Colorado and University of Saskatchewan. Breeding phenology varies with latitude as reported in analyses by the National Audubon Society and the Migratory Bird Center, and survivorship estimates derive from banding programs operated by the North American Bird Banding Program and ringing schemes coordinated with the Canadian Wildlife Service.
Conservation status and threats
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, population trends are monitored by the North American Breeding Bird Survey, the Christmas Bird Count coordinated by the National Audubon Society, and state-level monitoring by agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Threats include vehicle collisions on highways studied by the Federal Highway Administration, secondary poisoning from rodenticides assessed by the Environmental Protection Agency, habitat alteration evaluated by the USDA Forest Service, and illegal persecution addressed by enforcement through the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and prosecutions by the Department of Justice.