Red-tailed buzzard

The red-tailed buzzard (Buteo jamaicencis) is not seen in the wild in the United Kingdom, unlike its close relatives the buzzard (Buteo buteo) and the rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus) and its slightly less close relative the honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus). It is more likely to be seen at falconry displays, as pictured (at the 2010 Festival of History, Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire).

Confusingly, it is also known as the red-tailed hawk, which is the name commonly used in the United States. However, it is a buzzard, and not a hawk! Just to add further confusion, the name “buzzard hawk” is also used.

Its rarity in other parts of the world is more than compensated for by its numbers in North America, where it the commonest member of the Buteo family and is found from sub-Arctic Canada as far south as Panama. It can be seen in all 48 contiguous states of the USA, plus Alaska.

Appearance

In size, it is comparable to Buteo buteo, although female red-tailed buzzards can be 25% larger than males. The size in question is around 45-55 centimetres (18-22 inches) in length for males and 48-65 centimetres (19-25.5 inches) for females. Buteo buteo measures around 50-56 centimetres. The two species have similar wingspans at around 120-140 centimetres (47-55 inches).

The plumage of the red-tailed buzzard is generally brown on the upperside and lighter on the underside, with darker mottling lower down. However, there are many variations in colouring as between regional sub-species and also between individual birds. There are no pronounced differences as between the plumage of male and female birds.

The reddish-brown tail, which is rounded in shape, is a sign of maturity. Its colour varies from a darker red above to an almost pink tinge below. This makes the red-tailed buzzard easy to distinguish when in flight, as it is usually seen from below and the tail and light-coloured underparts contrast with the dark underside of the wings.

Habits

The red-tailed buzzard’s preferred habitat is open countryside interspersed with clumps of forest. It will settle on high trees or cliff edges, then take off to soar above the ground in wide circles. Its large wings enable it to make good use of thermals and it only needs to flap its wings occasionally, thus saving energy. It can also “kite”, which means adjusting the angle of its wings to catch the wind in order to stay aloft at the same spot.

When prey is sighted the red-tailed buzzard will dive from a height in the manner of a kestrel. This prey is likely to be small mammals such as rodents or rabbits. Despite sometimes being known as the “chicken hawk”, the red-tailed buzzard rarely takes domestic fowls.

Red-tailed buzzards will however take snakes, depending on the region in which they live. When a rattlesnake is the prey, the red-tailed buzzard will advance on the snake on the ground, with its wings spread out and curled around to the front. The snake is likely to strike at the wing-tips, this being the closest part of the bird to it. This will not harm the buzzard, as the wings contain no blood vessels, but the bird can then strike at the back of the rattler’s neck, rendering it helpless.

Breeding

Red-tailed buzzards mate for life, with an individual taking another mate only if the first one dies. Once paired, they will patrol the same hunting area, which can extend over several square miles, and protect it against other pairs and other species. The male will guard the wider area while the female looks after the nest site.

The nest is an untidy structure comprising twigs and sticks with a lining of vegetable matter, depending on what is available in the locality. Nests are re-used each season, with fresh material being added, and so can grow to quite impressive proportions. Nests are built high above the ground, in high trees or on cliff edges. Man-made nesting platforms are provided in some areas to dissuade red-tailed buzzards from using power poles and other structures as nest sites.

The clutch, which is laid at any time between late March and August or September, depending on the region, is of up to five eggs, laid at intervals of one or two days. Incubation is shared and can take up to 30 days before the first egg hatches. The young birds fledge at around 45 days, although the parent birds continue to protect them for several weeks longer.

Threats

Red-tailed buzzards have natural threats in other raptors, particularly golden and bald eagles, although they can generally hold their own. Owls provide competition for nesting sites and will take eggs and young birds if the parents fail to guard them sufficiently well.

In former times human hunters posed a threat to red-tailed buzzards, especially as the birds were blamed for taking farm stock such as chickens, but the bird is now a protected species throughout much of its natural range. Birds are now far more likely to be taken for falconry purposes, under closely monitored conditions.

© John Welford