Red-Tailed Hawk

Our backyard is often frequented by a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). We usually see it either perching in a pine tree or crashing through the yard trying to catch prey. The prey it is usually after includes mourning doves and eastern grey squirrels.

Red-tailed hawks are large raptors; they are common in Georgia and can be seen year round. They are a “sit and wait” predator, and can often be seen perched on utility poles watching for prey.

Their call is a very distinctive raspy scream, you may have heard this call used in movies or TV shows; Hollywood often uses it when there is an eagle or other large bird in a scene. To hear the call of the red-tailed hawk see this link.

To hear what the Bald Eagle actually sounds like see this link.