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The Red-Tailed Hawk Portraits page has 54 images of Light, Intermediate and Dark morph juvenile and adult Red-Tailed Hawks taken in several locations in the Western United States.
Click an image to open a larger version. Use your back button to return to this page.
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Raptor Section Index
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Dark Morph Red-Tailed Hawk 4245c
A perched Dark morph Red-Tailed Hawk overlooks a field at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.
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Dark Morph Red-Tailed Hawk 4252
A Dark morph Red-Tailed Hawk at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
There are several subspecies of the Red-Tailed Hawk with highly variable appearance, but even within the primary species there are three major variations in plumage and overlapping variations. These plumage variations are called the Light, Intermediate and Dark morphs, and there are also Light and Dark Intermediates. Light morph Harlan’s Red-Tailed Hawks can be quite pale. There are also Rufous phase Red-Tailed Hawks with reddish-brown plumage in light and dark morphs.
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Dark Morph Red-Tailed Hawk 4258
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Juvenile Dark Morph Red-Tail X3966
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A molting juvenile Dark Morph Red-Tailed Hawk on the left and a younger juvenile on the right. Note the mottled feathers on the back and wings. A Light morph juvenile Red-Tail is shown below.
Light Juvenile Red-Tail 1892
A juvenile Light morph Red-Tailed Hawk at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge. Juveniles display a strongly mottled appearance, with white patches on the back and wings, and a mottled breast which can be seen in the frontal portrait below.
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail X3730 M
A 1000 x 1590 pixel frontal profile portrait of a Light morph juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk taken at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge. More portraits of this bird are further below.
All of the landscape (horizontal) large version images linked from the thumbnails are 1500 pixels wide. Portrait (vertical) images are 1200 pixels tall (1290 pixels with title bar). Images designated with an “M” in the shot number are 5:4 aspect ratio, 1500 x 1290 with a title bar, or 1500 x 1200 without a title bar. A few portrait images like the one above are designated “M”, and are 1500 pixels tall (plus title bar).
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail 1898c
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail 1896c
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Two more profile portraits of a juvenile Light morph Red-Tailed Hawk at Bosque del Apache.
Red-Tailed Hawks are one of the largest in the genus Buteo, known as the soaring hawks. They are the most commonly seen hawks, and are generally soaring at a significant height. As with most raptors, the females are larger than the males, averaging about 25% heavier.
Red-Tailed Hawk Light Morph 1316
A backlit Light morph adult Red-Tailed Hawk waves at the photographer with its nictating membrane closed from its perch atop an electrical pole.
The nictating membrane is a translucent third eyelid which the bird uses to protect and moisten the eye or remove debris while maintaining visibility.
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Red-Tailed Hawk Light Morph 1335
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Red-Tailed Hawk Light Morph 1341
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A Light morph Red-Tailed Hawk surveying his territory from atop an electrical pole. The hawk perched above the sign to remind those who saw him of his elevated status.
Red-Tailed Hawk Light Morph 1332 M
A 1000 x 1590 pixel portrait of an adult Light Morph Red-Tailed Hawk. The Light morph is the most common variation in the primary species.
Red-Tailed Hawks are the most common hawks in North America, and are best known for their soaring hunting style and their brick-red tails. Of the 14 subspecies of the Red-Tail, not all exhibit their namesake tail color. Besides the subspecies variations, juveniles have a light tail with dark bars, and as previously mentioned, variations in plumage exist within the primary species.
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Red-Tailed Hawk Morphs M
A larger-than-normal (1800 x 1200) preview of the SXXL (6900 x 4600) composite which shows images of various Red-Tailed Hawk morphs with legends identifying the variations.
Red-Tailed Hawks have three variations (or morphs), the Light, Intermediate and Dark morphs. The differences in the morphs are based upon the belly, shoulder and central wing markings and the body color. Light and Intermediate morphs have buff to orange dark-streaked bodies and a dark patch at the shoulder. The body streaks on the Light morph can be very light, and the shoulder markings can be narrower. The Dark morph has a dark body and central wing.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Red-Tailed Hawk 6080
A Red-Tailed Hawk perched in a tree overlooking the Farm Loop at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
One of three hawk species known as Chicken Hawks, the Red-Tailed Hawk prefers hunting in open areas such as fields or desert and perches in trees or other high places from which they can keep watch for prey. Red-Tails occupy a variety of habitats from desert and grasslands to forest edges, fields and urban areas.
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Red-Tailed Hawk 6082 M
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Red-Tailed Hawk 6090 M
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Red-Tailed Hawks weigh from 2 to 4 pounds (averaging 2.25 pounds) and are generally 18” to 25” long with a wingspan of 41” to 56”. They have relatively broad 7.5” to 10” tails. They are a heavily-built hawk with a brown-streaked belly band on a light underside in the Light and Intermediate morphs, a cinnamon brown head which appears small in comparison to the body size, a short, dark curved bill with light gray to yellow cere and gap skin (skin at the base of the bill and edge of the mouth) and yellow legs. Their talons are exceedingly sharp. Juveniles have yellow eyes which darken to an amber color with age. The tail of the primary species is brick red on top and red-orange on the underside. Juveniles have a light tail with dark horizontal bars.
Red-Tailed Hawk 6086c
A Red-Tailed Hawk fluffs its feathers to ward off the winter cold at Bosque del Apache.
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Red-Tailed Hawk 5002 M
A 1000 x 1590 pixel rear profile portrait of a perched Red-Tailed Hawk. Note that the wingtips of the perched hawk nearly reach the tip of the tail.
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Red-Tailed Hawk 5004
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Red-Tailed Hawk 5006
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Following are several rear profile portraits of a perched Red-Tailed Hawk at Bosque del Apache.
The 5000-series images were all taken in mid-December at 850mm from significant distance. 6000-series images were taken the following day at 700mm from a somewhat closer distance. The 9000-series images below were taken at 700mm in late December of the following year.
Red-Tailed Hawk X9056 M
A Red-Tailed Hawk perched over the Farm Loop at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico.
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Red-Tailed Hawk X9066
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Red-Tailed Hawk X9068
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The Red-Tailed Hawk has spread to an extremely diverse range of habitats in an unusual adaptation to the pattern of human development of the country. The clearing of forests in the Northwest created hunting areas which the hawks took advantage of, and the preservation of wood lots and the planting of new trees created nesting sites near these new hunting areas. Highways with open median areas, road signs and utility poles created perches and open areas for perch hunting, and the fact that the hawks are not bothered by human activity allows them to nest and live in areas where there are large numbers of humans, such as in cities where pigeons and rats can be found to supplement their diet. The most famous Red-Tailed Hawk in history was a good example: Pale Male became the first Red-Tailed Hawk to successfully nest and raise his young in New York City’s Manhattan Borough. Click the link for the story of Pale Male.
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Red-Tailed Hawk X9073 M
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Red-Tailed Hawk X9080 M
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Rear profile portraits of a Red-Tailed Hawk scanning for prey at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico. Red-Tailed Hawks have superb eyesight, and can discern prey as small as a mouse at 100 feet.
Red-Tailed Hawk X9082 M
Red-Tailed Hawks primarily eat small mammals such as mice and squirrels, but they also eat rabbits, gophers, pigeons and other birds, reptiles, fish and insects. They hunt using two different techniques: from a perch and scanning from the air.
In perch hunting, the hawk scans for prey from an elevated perch such as a utility pole or a tree, swooping down from the perch to capture its marked prey. They also scan for prey while soaring overhead at great height, snatching a bird in flight or chasing down prey spotted from the air, pinning it in their sharp talons. Red-Tailed Hawks have been observed hunting in pairs, soaring together or staking out two sides of a tree, one flushing a squirrel towards the other.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Red-Tailed Hawk Juvenile 1748 M
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Red-Tailed Hawk Juvenile 5536 M
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Four portraits of juvenile Red-Tails in the Eucalyptus trees and on a hillside at the top of Griffith Park, a chaparral habitat at the base of the Santa Monica mountains in Los Angeles.
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Red-Tailed Hawk Juvenile 1762
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Red-Tailed Hawk Juvenile 5613
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Note the strongly mottled chest feathers and white patches on the back of the two juvenile hawks on the left. The hawks in the two images on the right are older juveniles who have nearly molted into their adult plumage.
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail HS0882 M
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail HS0883 M
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When watching Raptors, often the best indicator that they are going to fly is when they ‘lighten the load’ or ‘vent’ (the two most popular euphemisms for letting fly before they fly). The bird raises its wings and hunches its back, looking over its shoulder at the target area, then releases a liquid stream as shown in the two images above. This is a good time to re-frame from your portrait composition to get takeoff shots without cutting off a wing.
Light Juvenile Red-Tail HS0906 M
The same juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk a short time later, after it had landed on a new perch.
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail X3701
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail X3705
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Close frontal portraits of a juvenile Light morph Red-Tailed Hawk at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge.
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail X3724
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail X3716
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Juvenile Red-Tails become independent from their parents at about 4 months of age. They retain the juvenile plumage and barred tail until they molt at the end of their second year.
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail X3715
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail X3735
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Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawks have a noticeably less stocky body shape than adults and narrower wings and tail. Their eyes are yellow, and darken to amber as they age.
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail X3744
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Light Juvenile Red-Tail X3748
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Most juveniles do not catch their own food until about 6-7 weeks after leaving the nest. Some continue association with their parents for up to six months after leaving the nest. At right above is a juvenile Light morph Red-Tailed Hawk in an introspective mood.
Light Juvenile Red-Tail X3738 M
A 1000 x 1590 pixel frontal portrait of a juvenile Light morph Red-Tailed Hawk.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Rufous Morph Red-Tail Juvenile 4285 M
A Rufous morph Red-Tailed Hawk at Newport Back Bay in Southern California.
Some scholars group all Intermediate morph Red-Tailed Hawks into the Rufous morph, but others do not. In my experience, there are dark Rufous morph Red-Tailed Hawks and light Rufous morph Red-Tailed Hawks, as well as Red-Tails whose plumage falls in between the Light morph and Dark morph parameters who do not have the reddish cast to the feathers.
I would identify this individual as a dark Rufous morph Red-Tailed Hawk. The Flight page has images of this hawk in flight along with several of a light Rufous morph and a pale Northern Rufous morph Red-Tail, as well as images of Dark, Intermediate and Light morph Red-Tailed Hawks in flight who do not have the rufous cast to their feathers.
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Rufous Morph Red-Tail Juvenile 4285c
A closer crop of the portrait of the juvenile Rufous morph Red-Tail shown above.
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Rufous Morph Red-Tail Juvenile 4300 M
A profile portrait of the juvenile Rufous morph Red-Tailed Hawk, perched in a precarious spot on a hillside at Newport Back Bay.
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Rufous Morph Red-Tail Juvenile 4306c
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Rufous Morph Red-Tail Juvenile 4308c
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A set of over-the-shoulder profile portraits of a juvenile Rufous morph Red-Tailed Hawk at Newport Back Bay.
Rufous Morph Red-Tail Juvenile 4310 M
A juvenile Rufous morph Red-Tailed Hawk strikes a pose on a cliff face at Newport Back Bay, California.
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Rufous Morph Red-Tail Juvenile 4315c
A frontal quarter portrait of a juvenile Rufous morph Red-Tailed Hawk.
Note the nearly uniform mottling of the reddish-brown feathers of the breast, belly, flanks, thighs and wings, and the barred tail of the juvenile.
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Rufous Morph Red-Tail Juvenile 4294 M
Two flight shots of this juvenile Rufous morph Red-Tailed Hawk, showing the light underwings, the barred secondaries and tail, and the dark wingtips and uniformly rufous unmottled head of this hawk.
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Rufous Morph Red-Tail Juvenile 4296
There are more flight shots of this and other Red-Tailed Hawks on the Flight page.
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Raptor Portraits SXXL A 1547 x 1200 version of the SXXL Composite (6511 x 5050).
Eagles and Hawks
Steller's Sea Eagle; Cooper's Hawk; Bald Eagle; Golden Eagle; Dark Rufous Morph Red-Tail Juvenile; Intermediate Morph Red-Tail; Light Morph Red-Tail Juvenile; Light Morph Ferruginous Hawk.
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Images in this section are in a number of different Galleries on the Photoshelter website. The Banner below leads to the Raptors Collection where a Gallery can be selected.
Direct Links:
Eagles Red-Tailed Hawks Assorted Hawks Owl and Harrier Falcons & Kites Osprey
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Click the Display Composite above to visit the Red-Tailed Hawks in Flight page
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Click the Display Composite above to visit the Assorted Hawks page
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Click the Display Composite above to return to the Raptors Index (or use the navigation bars below to select another section or page)
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