Red-tailed Hawk
Terror of the New York Skies
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo Jamaicensis
In a city that can’t stop building towards the clouds, there is an undisputed king of the skies: the Red-tailed Hawk. Although they can be found across the entire lower 48, in more than a dozen recognized subspecies, the Urban Hawks of the Concrete Jungle are unique in their adaptations and survivability.
Soaring Hawks, Red-tails can often be spotted as a shadow passing quickly over head, leaving behind an ominous sillouette that scans the ground for prey. Although the generally prefer mammals, like rabbits, squirrels, and other rodents, Red-tails will consume fish or amphibians if the opportunity presents itself. Inside the five boroughs, they can be found eating chipmunks, pigeons, and of course our invasive Norway Rats.
They’re also some of the city’s most prolific breeding raptors. The famous Pale Male caused quite a ruckus when repairs threatened his famous nest, and that nest is still in use today. Around the city, there are typically more than a dozen active nests, nearly all of which successfully produce offspring that make it to adulthood. These predators are so ubiquitous, they even adorn the logo of the Parks Department’s Urban Park Rangers.
Its hard to think of a better ambassador for Urban Adaptability, as the Red-tails of NYC have gone from a small population to celebrities and icons in just a few decades. But despite their rise, these daredevils of the steel sky still face numerous threats, from construction to pollution to rodenticide. They’re a symbol of our ability to welcome Nature back into the heart of civilization— and a reminder of how easily that progress can be lost.
Best Places to see them
Central Park -Prospect Park - Van Cortlandt Park -
Forest Park- High Rock Park-Pelham Bay Park
The First Celebrity Bird
Was Pale Male more fiction than fact?
New Yorkers love their celebrities, and in recent years, they’ve come to love their celebrity animals, too. If you’ve ever seen a movie scene with an Eagle in flight, chances are you’ve already heard the call of the Red-tail. Their piercing calls are often dubbed over eagles to give them a more powerful and dramatic sound. But in 2004, an individual rose from the ranks of humble voice actor to arguably one of the most famous birds in the world.
Red-tails have more than a dozen recognized subspecies, and many are distinguished by the colors of their feathers in addition to their locale. Sometime in the early 90s, a young Red-tail arrived in Central Park with a noticeable set of pale feathers. He took up nest building on a suitable high rise, 937 5th Avenue, and immediately set about siring several generations of New York Hawks. Just how many, with whom, and how often, is the subject of some debate and speculation, but what’s inarguable is the debate his presence sparked in the early aughts.
In 2004, building residents and owners attempted to remove the nest, citing concerns about falling debris. Protests ensued, with celebrities and the Audubon society coming to the hawks’ aid. A new design was proposed that could protect both hawks and residents, and the nest has remained active and protected ever since.
Allegedly, the Pale Male died in 2023, at an estimated 32 years old. The oldest confirmed Red-tail died at 28 years and 10 months old. Was the world’s most famous Red-tail also its oldest? You decide.
Fast Facts
Height: 18-26 inches tall (45-65cm) , the width of a carry-on suitcase
Wingspan: 41-56 inches (105-141cm) , the length of a full-body mirror
Weight: 2-4lbs (.9-2kg) or about the weight of a toaster
Diet: Mostly small to mid-size mammals, but will include birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
Behavior: Outside of NYC, Red-tails tend to avoid each other. Here, Hawks will have multiple nests in the same park! They can often be seen soaring on thermal drafts, scanning below for prey.
Lifespan: In the wild, Red-tails typically live 10-15 years. With human care, they can read their late twenties with relative ease. Their top threats are secondary rodenticide and lead poisoning, followed by vehicle collisions, strong weather, or prey scarcity.
Reproduction: It takes 1-2 years for Red-tails to earn their red and reach sexual maturity. During this period, young hawks will often stay near their parent’s territory, even hunting alongside their siblings. Red-tails tend to be monogamous, sticking with partners as long as they produce healthy clutches. Their young, called eyass, take 6-10 weeks to fledge.
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