Juveniles will have some brown spotting on their legs and stomach. These hawk can be identified in flight by the V that forms as result of their rust legs and white underparts. You can see the trademark V formed near the base of the hawk’s tail They typically have a gray head, rust-colored shoulders and legs, and white underparts. They have a wingspan around 55 inches and a length of 20-25 inches. They will also eat birds and snakes.įerruginous Hawks are larger than Red-tailed Hawks. They tend to eat small mammals that inhabit grasslands such as rabbits, squirrels, gophers, and mice. You will not find these raptors in urban areas or heavily treed regions because they do require those wide, open expanses in order to hunt. They generally prefer open, treeless areas and will roost on a lone tree in the area or even a utility pole. This species is considered to be “threatened” due to habitat loss and hunting. They can be spotted between late September and April in grasslands, sagebrush flats, desert scrub, and low foothills in Southwestern California. Ferruginous Hawkįar less common than the Red-tailed Hawk, the Ferruginous Hawk does use Southern California as a wintering destination. Red-tailed Hawks have distinctive screeches that will help you identify them as well. Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk with that distinctive brown and white banding Young Red-tailed Hawks stay with their parents for about 10-12 weeks and generally fledge (begin to fly) around 45 days. Red-tailed hawks tend to lay 2-3 white eggs with brown spots at a time. Red tailed-Hawks are excellent co-parents and work together to build their nest, incubate the eggs, and raise their young. ![]() They generally lose their banded (or striped) tails when they are about 18 months old. ![]() Juveniles have lighter chests and their tails have evenly spaced brown and white bars on them. There is an exception to the “red tail rule”. Red-tailed Hawks eat a wide variety of rodents, rabbits, lizards, snakes, insects, and even fish! You will often see them perched on fence posts, telephone poles, or soaring high above showing off those red tails. The signature red tail of a Red-tailed Hawk in flight They are commonly seen throughout Southern California, from the coastline to the desert, and in both wild and urban areas. It is also one of the easiest birds of prey to identify thanks to its signature red tail, though sometimes the tail does have a grayish tone. One of the most common hawks in Southern California is the Red-tailed Hawk. Red-Tailed Hawk Darker morphed Red-tail Hawk 8 Hawks in Southern California and How to Identify Them 1. Here is our full guide to all 34 California birds of prey. I have also included lots of pictures and distinguishing characteristics to help you identify these incredible birds. Here are eight hawks in Southern California that you might spy when hiking, camping, or simply walking your neihgborhood. These special birds are truly wonderous to watch, and an important part of our ecosystem. I have been a huge fan of identifying birds of prey ever since I took a class on Captive Raptor Management at UC Davis many moons ago. If you have recently seen a magnificent bird of prey soaring above you and wondered what it was, I am here to help! They are really cool birds.Look up! There are lots of hawks in Southern California, and spotting one is always a thrill. And, compare the head of the bird in your photo with the other ones. Compare the tail of your bird and the other ones. You can also check Facebook for some local birding groups.Īs far as this specific photo goes, look at the photos on the two Cornell websites. I would bet they are nesting on the tall buildings in the downtown area. Most birders are happy to share information like where to find these falcons. ![]() Or, look online for a local chapter of the Audubon Society to find out how to contact some birders. If you really want to see a Peregrine Falcon, post something here: But, they have adapted very well to suburban life where people put out feeders that attract smaller birds.which, in turn, feeds predators like these hawks. They used to be hawks that lived in the woods. I think this is no doubt a Cooper's Hawk. Read the behavior section, as well.Īnother thing I want to caution you about with bird ID is that, it is sometimes easy to want to see a more exotic or rarer species. Note: It is not just the look of a bird that matters. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has good web pages for this for each species. One good way to figure out what a bird is is by going step by step with its characteristics.
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