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The Iconic Red-Tailed Hawk: Quick Facts
The red-tailed hawk, a symbol of strength and beauty, is a common sight in the skies of the Americas. Here are some quick facts to help you get to know this magnificent bird better:
- Red-tailed hawks can weigh anywhere from 600 grams to 1.6 kg.
- These birds can spread their wings up to 141 cm wide.
- Female red-tailed hawks are typically larger than males, with up to 25% more weight.
- The body length of a red-tailed hawk ranges from 45 to 65 cm.
- There are up to 14 different subspecies of red-tailed hawks.
Digging Deeper: Essential Red-Tailed Hawk Facts
- Fossil evidence suggests that the ancestors of the red-tailed hawk originated from either Africa or South Asia.
- The red-tailed hawk is the result of millions of years of evolution.
- Johann Gmelin first identified them as Falco jamaicensis in 1788.
- Bernard de Lacepede later renamed them Buteo jamaicensis in 1799.
- The rufous-tailed hawk was once considered a subspecies of the red-tailed hawk but is now recognized as a separate species.
- Modern scientists see similarities between red-tailed hawks and other predatory birds in Africa.
Distinguishing Hawks and Buzzards
- The distinction between hawks and buzzards is purely geographical.
- Buzzards inhabit the Old World of Europe, Asia, and Africa, while hawks reside in the New World of North and South America.
- All hawk and buzzard species fall under the genus Buteo, which comprises a total of 29 species worldwide.
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