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This is because the Red-shouldered Hawk prefers heavily wooded areas along rivers and creeks.
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Although very numerous in North Texas and a year round resident, the Red-shouldered Hawk is not often seen. Perhaps the second most common Buteo in the metroplex is the Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus). A Red-tailed Hawk photographed near its nest located atop a cell phone tower. A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, only days out of the nest. More information about Red-tailed Hawks can be found here: Wikipedia – Red-tailed Hawk A Red-tailed Hawk clearly displaying its signature red tail. Occasionally they will feed on common urban birds like feral pigeons or starlings. Red-tailed Hawks typically feed on small mammals such as Eastern Cottontails, Fox Squirrels, rats, and mice. Most adult Red-tailed Hawks in the DFW area, however, display the namesake red tail, a dark band across a white breast, and light wings with a dark bar along the leading edge. The plumage displayed by this bird can vary widely depending upon age, color morph, and whether migratory subspecies are in the area. The Red-tailed Hawk is a large bird with a wingspan that can approach 5 feet. Red-tailed Hawks are year round residents, but their numbers increase in the winter when northern populations migrate into Texas. Urban Red-tailed Hawks can frequently be seen perched on lampposts along our highways where they stay on the look out for prey animals in the grassy medians. They breed readily around human populations, and often make use of man-made structures as nest locations. These ubiquitous hawks are widely distributed across all of North America, and are superbly adapted to urban living. Perhaps the most common of all of our raptors is the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Click to Enlargeīuteos – Medium to large-sized Raptors with robust bodies and broad wings. When you’re as big and powerful as a raptor soaring high in the sky, moving outside your home range is not difficult to do. Other are what is known as occasional vagrants-birds that sometimes roam outside their normal range. Depending on the season, there can be as many as 20 different species of falconiformes living in the North Texas area. The DFW Metroplex is home to a number of these mighty birds. Many countries use birds of prey as their national symbol. So respected are these birds that they are often chosen as sports team mascots.
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These big, powerful birds inspire us with their raw power, grace and majesty. Many people hold a particular fascination with raptors-otherwise known as birds of prey.
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