Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNKC19110
Common Name: 
Red-tailed Hawk
Scientific Name: 
Buteo jamaicensis
Google image search
Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Accipitriformes
Family: 
Accipitridae
References: 
ASC13
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

1 year (R080); Average age at first breeding is not known, but few juveniles (< 2 yr; possessing brown tail) of either sex observed to breed (B128)
References: 
R080
B128

Longevity

Oldest known wild individual (banded) was 21.5 yr. A captive female Red-tail is known to have lived at least 29.5 yr (Palmer 1988).
References: 
B128
Habitat
dry woodland with high perches near open country (R080); main foods taken small to medium-sized mammals, birds, reptiles (B028)
References: 
H126
R080
B128
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.38 Fairly common migrant and breeder throughout the Southern Mainland and southern Mackenzie Mountains and up the Mackenzie Valley to Inuvik. The breeding subspecies is calurus, but harlani, which breeds in Alaska and the Yukon, passes through as an uncommon migrant. Principle dates late April to early October.(NWT Bird checklist project)
Score: 
G
References: 
R080
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern Canada to South America

Number of Occurrences

prob. More than 100 nest sitesApril to early October. Early record: 8 April 2015; 1 individual; Mason Lake, 15 km se. of Yellowknife; Vicki & Warren St. Germaine; eBird 2012. Late record: 26 October 2011; 1 individual, ssp. harlani; Fort Simpson; Doug Tate, David Britton; eBird 2012. High count: 6 individuals; 26 July 2015; Highway 3 (Birch Creek to Fort Providence); Reid Hildebrandt; eBird 2012(NWT Bird checklist project)
Score: 
DE
References: 
H126

Area of Occupancy

Score: 
-
References: 
LWR01
R080
Population

Population Size

low to medium abundance; probably higher than 1000 less than 10 000
Score: 
DE
References: 
R080
Trends

Trends

References: 
LWR01
R080
Threats

Threats

Southern low food abundance (medium-sized mammals, birds, reptiles), shooting, collisions with vehicules, human disturbance; limited threats in NWT
References: 
H126
R080

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Forestry but limited in NWT
Score: 
C
References: 
H126
R080
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
But numbers of individuals and trends not known
S Rank: 
S4?
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Suzanne Carriere based on printed references. Reviewed in 2005 by S Carrière based on printed literature only :no change in rank; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed in 2015, no change; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
June 18, 2020
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Not At Risk
References: 
R080

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R080 Return
  • Preston, C. R. and R. D. Beane. (1993) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). In The Birds of North America,. No. 52 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.).Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/account/Red-tailed_Hawk/RECOMMENDED_CITATION.html - B128 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R080 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R080 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R080 Return
  • Preston, C. R. and R. D. Beane. (1993) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). In The Birds of North America,. No. 52 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.).Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/account/Red-tailed_Hawk/RECOMMENDED_CITATION.html - B128 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R080 Return

Longevity

  • Preston, C. R. and R. D. Beane. (1993) Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). In The Birds of North America,. No. 52 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.).Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/account/Red-tailed_Hawk/RECOMMENDED_CITATION.html - B128 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Population Size

Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R080 Return

Range Extent

  • Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R080 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R080 Return

Taxonomy

  • Chesser, R. Terry, Richard C. Banks, F. Keith Barker, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, Kevin Winker. (2010) Fifty-first supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds.. Auk 127(3):726-744. - ASC13 Return

Threats

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Kirk DA (1995) Status report on the red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R080 Return