Red-tailed hawks are one of the most common and widespread hawks in North America. They are large, powerful raptors that can be found in a variety of habitats across the continent. Red-tails have been admired by humans for centuries for their impressive hunting abilities, regal appearance, and place as an important part of many ecosystems. This has led some people to wonder – can red-tailed hawks be trained?
What are red-tailed hawks?
The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a large, broad-winged buteo hawk. Adults have characteristic red uppertail coverts (feathers on the upper side of the tail) that give the species its name. Red-tailed hawks exhibit considerable variation in plumage. There are 14 recognized subspecies of red-tailed hawk, differentiated by differences in color phases, such as dark or light morphs. In general, these large hawks have broad, rounded wings and wide, fanned tails. Their plumage can be variable but usually includes a dark brown back and a pale underbelly with a streaked belly band. The head often has variable spotting. Red-tailed hawks are sexually monomorphic, meaning males and females look alike. However, females tend to be around 25% larger than males. Compared to many other hawk species, red-tailed hawks have a relatively long lifespan. Typical longevity in the wild is around 5-15 years but captive birds have lived up to 30 years.
Where do they live?
Red-tailed hawks occupy an extremely wide range and can be found across most of North America. Their breeding range stretches from central Alaska across Canada and the United States south through Mexico. Northern populations are migratory and move south for winter while other populations may be resident year-round. This is one of the most widely distributed and abundant raptors in North America. The red-tailed hawk is able to thrive in a variety of habitats including forests, shrublands, grasslands, deserts, and even urban environments. They require adequate space for hunting along with tall trees, cliffs, or power poles for nesting and perching. A key factor in their success is adaptability – red-tailed hawks are habitat generalists and can make use of many different ecosystems.
What do they eat?
As opportunistic predators, red-tailed hawks eat a wide variety of prey. They primarily hunt small mammals such as rodents, rabbits, and squirrels. Certain populations may also target reptiles, amphibians, and birds. Prey is typically spotted from a high perch or soaring flight and then swooped down upon. These powerful raptors employ a variety of hunting techniques including short stoops, high soaring searches, low flights over open ground, and still hunting from an elevated perch. In some cases, they may even walk along the ground in search of prey. Because of their varied diet, red-tailed hawks help control the populations of small mammals and other animals in an ecosystem.
Why interact with red-tailed hawks?
There are a few primary reasons why people seek to work with red-tailed hawks:
- Falconry – For centuries, humans have practiced the art of training hawks and falcons to hunt prey. Red-tailed hawks are one of the most popular falconry species in North America and Europe. Their intelligence, adaptability, and relatively easy-going nature make them good candidates for training.
- Education – Trained hawks can help educate people about raptors and the natural world. Displaying these impressive predators helps raise awareness.
- Rehabilitation – People may interact with injured or orphaned red-tailed hawks as part of the rehabilitation process before the hawks are released back to the wild.
- Research – Working with red-tailed hawks allows biologists to study aspects of their natural history and behavior in more detail.
In the hands of trained experts, working with red-tailed hawks can be beneficial. However, individuals without proper training and facilities should not attempt to interact with wild raptors.
Can red-tailed hawks be trained?
The short answer is yes, red-tailed hawks can be trained. However, there are some important considerations.
Considerations for training
Training any raptor takes time, patience, and specialized techniques. There are a few factors that impact red-tailed hawk trainability:
- Age – younger hawks are generally easier to train than older, wild-caught birds.
- Origin – hawks bred in captivity are more suitable to training than rescued wild hawks.
- Temperament – each hawk has its own personality that affects trainability.
- Physical condition – injured or malnourished hawks may not train as well.
- Expertise of trainer – an experienced falconer is much more likely to succeed in training.
Additionally, not all red-tails can be fully trained for activities like free flight or hunting. Only individuals of appropriate age, health, and temperament may be able to train towards advanced handling and hunting.
Overview of training process
While every bird is different, the basic process of training a red-tailed hawk involves:
- Acclimating the hawk to human presence.
- Getting the hawk comfortable being handled and having hoods or other equipment placed on it.
- Building trust between the hawk and falconer through daily interactions.
- Introducing a lure and teaching the hawk to associate humans with food rewards.
- Developing skills such as returning to the falconer’s glove or fist.
- For hunting birds, introducing and pursuing live quarry under close supervision.
This detailed process requires regular handling and bonding sessions to condition the hawk to human presence. With careful incremental steps, proper techniques, and lots of patience, red-tailed hawks can learn to work cooperatively with their human trainers. However, there are no guarantees, as some individuals may not respond well or fully adapt to training.
Training for falconry
One of the most common reasons people train red-tailed hawks is for the practice of falconry. As one of the most popular falconry species, they are known for being easy to handle and train compared to many other raptors. However, suitable temperament and genetics are still key – historically the best falconry red-tails were bred selectively from lineages that exhibited cooperation with humans.
In falconry training:
- Young birds are taken from nests before first flight and hand-raised for maximum human socialization.
- Fledglings are introduced early and consistently to falconry equipment like hoods, jesses, gloves, and lures.
- Positive reinforcement is used to teach basic skills like returning to the fist.
- The hawk is introduced to bagged game and eventually allowed to pursue live quarry like rabbits and quail under supervision.
With many daily handling and training sessions, the right individual can become a reliable falconry bird. However, falconry has a steep learning curve and only dedicated apprenticeship under an expert can set a hawk up for success.
What can red-tailed hawks be trained to do?
While capabilities differ between individual birds, some behaviors that red-tailed hawks can be trained for include:
Return to the fist or glove
– This is a fundamental skill in any raptor training where the bird learns to fly back to the falconer’s hand/glove after being released.
Wearing hoods and equipment
– Falcons wear hoods to keep them calm in environments with lots of stimuli. Hawks can be conditioned to accept wearing hoods.
Bathing on command
– Some birds can be trained to bath or spread their wings on cue.
Hunting quarry
– For falconry, hawks may be trained to chase and capture rabbits, squirrels, and other small game.
Retrieving items
– Occasionally hawks can learn to grasp and retrieve specific items on command.
Displaying natural behaviors
– Educational programs may showcase hawks’ natural hunting, bathing, or perching behaviors.
However, these capabilities require intensive specialized training. Handling any raptor requires special permits and licenses from state and federal wildlife agencies.
Are there risks to training red-tailed hawks?
While training red-tailed hawks can certainly be done, there are risks inherent to falconry and raptor interactions that must be taken seriously, including:
Potential injuries
When handling large birds of prey, there is always the possibility of injury from talons or beaks. Protective gear helps minimize this risk.
Disease transmission
Close human contact allows for potential transmission of some contagious diseases. Precautions must be taken.
Danger to the public
Escaped hawks trained for hunting could pose a danger to people and pets. Extensive experience is required to fly and handle hunting birds safely.
Permanently imprinting hawks
Improper socialization early in life or intensive handling of young hawks can cause imprinting. Imprinted birds cannot be successfully returned to the wild.
Stress on the hawk
Intensive training and handling against the hawk’s wishes can cause chronic stress. Signs of stress must be minimized through proper training.
While these risks can be mitigated by careful practices, they mean handling raptors is inherently an endeavor where human error can have dire impacts on birds. Extensive training and apprenticeship is required to become a falconer.
Is it legal to train red-tailed hawks?
Training red-tailed hawks and practicing falconry with them is legal in most jurisdictions but there are permits and regulations involved. In the United States:
- A falconry permit, state and federal licenses are required.
- Apprentice falconers must be supervised by a General or Master Falconer.
- Only captive-bred or certain wild-caught birds may be used for falconry.
- Any raptor possessed must be properly housed, trained, and cared for.
- Laws may vary in different states, provinces, and countries.
Illegal capture of wild raptors or keeping them without proper falconry licensure is punishable by fines and imprisonment. Permits require applicants prove their raptor housing, facilities, training, and experience meet stringent regulations. Proper licensure and care of both raptor and human are imperative.
What equipment is used in red-tailed hawk training?
A variety of specialized equipment aids in handling, flying, and training red-tailed hawks:
Jesses
– Leather straps secured around the hawk’s legs for attaching leash lines.
Leash and creance lines
– Long cords attached to jesses to restrain, retrieve, or tether the hawk.
Glove and arm guards
– Thick leather gloves and guards to protect the falconer’s hands/arms from talons.
Hoods
– Fitted leather hoods placed over a hawk’s head to keep it calm and prevent distractions.
Outdoor perches
– Fixed perches provide a place for hawks to rest outdoors.
Lures
– Items like bags or bird wings used to recall hawks by simulating prey.
Crating boxes
– Secure wooden boxes with perches to transport hawks short distances.
Weathering area
– Outdoor sheltered areas for hawks to rest while acclimating to the environment.
Proper outfitting ensures the comfort, security, and training effectiveness for both raptor and handler.
What are best practices for training red-tailed hawks?
While the nuances of training red-tailed hawks takes years to master, some best practices include:
- Being properly licensed and permitted to possess raptors according to local, state, and federal regulations.
- Working closely under the guidance and supervision of an expert falconer/trainer.
- Housing the hawk in proper facilities – spacious, clean, well-ventilated, with perches.
- Providing excellent nutrition – a whole prey diet with supplements as needed.
- Getting young birds imprinted on humans immediately after hatching when possible.
- Frequently handling and flying the hawk to build familiarity and trust.
- Keeping training sessions short, fun, and positive using rewards like food.
- Reading the hawk’s signals to identify signs of stress or injury.
- Employing good hygiene regarding cleaning facilities and equipment to prevent disease transmission.
- Exercising extreme caution when introducing hunting birds to live quarry.
A dedication to the hawk’s well-being must be placed first at all times when training these wild creatures.
Conclusion
In summary, red-tailed hawks are intelligent, adaptable birds of prey that can be trained to cooperate with humans when handled by experienced specialists employing proper techniques. However, there are ethical considerations due to risks posed to both the raptors and the public. Rigorous licensing requirements, housing standards, training processes, and ethical practices must be followed to ensure the safety and well-being of the hawks. While the average person cannot legally keep a red-tailed hawk as a pet, these majestic raptors can form a working partnership with trained experts through the art of falconry. When undertaken properly by authorized professionals with a dedication to the hawk’s needs, training red-tailed hawks can be done successfully.