Identification - Its plumage is variable. Light phase breeding birds have a large, mainly brown body with brick red upper tail, paler red when seen from below, and a streaked band across the white belly. Dark phase birds are similar, except the breast and belly is brown rather than white. Sexes are similar.
Morsels - As with many other birds of prey, Red-tailed Hawk numbers have suffered declines through persecution by humans, loss of their habitat, and loss of productivity through the thinning of their eggshells. The latter is thought to be a result of their eating pesticide contaminated prey. While the pesticide levels in the prey (usually rodents) are often small, the Red-tailed Hawk consumes large numbers of these contaminated rodents. Thus, the pesticide levels in the hawk, which accumulate in its fatty tissues, build to the point where they affect the breeding success of the bird.
