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.