Yes, red-tailed hawks are found throughout North Carolina. The red-tailed hawk is one of the most common and widespread raptors in North America. They can be found in a variety of habitats across the state, including rural, urban, coastal, and mountain environments.
Quick Facts About Red-Tailed Hawks in North Carolina
Here are some key facts about red-tailed hawks in North Carolina:
- Common resident – Red-tailed hawks live year-round in North Carolina and do not migrate.
- Wide-ranging habitat – They occupy diverse habitats including forests, swamps, fields, cities, and suburbs.
- Abundant population – North Carolina provides excellent habitat for breeding and wintering red-tailed hawks.
- Legally protected – Red-tailed hawks are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
- Key rodent predator – An important natural control on rodent and small mammal populations.
Identification
Red-tailed hawks are large raptors characterized by broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Adults have a brownish upperparts and a pale underbelly with a dark band across the belly. The tail is reddish-brown. In flight, the leading edge of the wings has a dark stripe between lighter undersides.
Juveniles have a streaked brown belly and a less distinct red tail. All red-tailed hawks have a dark patagial mark on the leading edge of the wing.
Red-tailed hawks are quite variable across their range, with over a dozen recognized subspecies. The subspecies Buteo jamaicensis borealis is most common in eastern North America including North Carolina.
Range and Habitat
Red-tailed hawks occupy a wide range of habitats in North Carolina. They thrive in mixed open woodlands, forest edges, wetlands, cultivated fields, pastures, and urban/suburban areas. Large trees, snags, and elevated perches provide vital nesting and hunting sites.
They occur statewide across coastal plains, piedmont forests, agricultural regions, marshes, swamps, and mountain ranges up to 5,000 feet in elevation. Red-tailed hawks are absent only from dense, unbroken stands of forest.
Coastal Plain
Along the coastal plain, red-tailed hawks frequent open pine woods, swamp forests, salt and freshwater marshes, as well as suburban parks and neighborhoods.
Piedmont
In the piedmont region, red-tailed hawks occupy mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, early successional habitat, croplands, pasturelands, and urban areas.
Mountains
In the Appalachian mountains, red-tailed hawks inhabit meadows, shrublands, aspen groves, open coniferous forests, logged areas, and rural farmland. They are present along ridges, valleys, and slopes below 5,000 feet elevation.
Population and Conservation Status
Red-tailed hawks have an extremely large global population estimated between 1 and 3 million individuals. They are widespread and abundant across North America with stable, healthy populations. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.
In North Carolina, red-tailed hawks have a conservation status of “Secure” according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. They are a common resident and breeder across the state. No major threats to red-tailed hawk populations have been identified in North Carolina.
Population Estimates for North Carolina
Region | Population Estimate |
---|---|
Statewide | 50,000 – 100,000 pairs |
Coastal Plain | 20,000 – 40,000 pairs |
Piedmont | 20,000 – 40,000 pairs |
Mountain | 10,000 – 20,000 pairs |
These estimates indicate a substantial breeding population across all regions of North Carolina. As many as 100,000 pairs may occupy the state during peak breeding season.
Behavior and Hunting
Red-tailed hawks are versatile predators that hunt using perches and short flights. They specialize in capturing small mammals but also prey on birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Common prey includes mice, voles, ground squirrels, rabbits, snakes, lizards, and small birds.
Hunting most often occurs during daylight hours. Red-tails scan for prey from an elevated perch such as a tree branch, utility pole, or fence post. Once spotted, they swoop down to seize prey with their sharp talons. They may also hunt while soaring over open habitat.
Adaptations for Hunting
Red-tailed hawks exhibit several key adaptations that aid their hunting strategy:
- Keen eyesight – Excellent long-distance vision to spot small prey while perched high up.
- Powerful talons – Large, strong talons to swiftly kill and carry prey.
- Broad wings – Wide, rounded wings allow maneuverability in open habitats.
- Swift flight – Capable of rapid acceleration and swift stooping dives to seize prey.
Urban Adaptability
Red-tailed hawks display a remarkable adaptability to urban environments. They are now common urban and suburban raptors in many North Carolina cities including Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Asheville.
Urban red-tails nest on building ledges, window awnings, cell towers, and tall light posts. They hunt pigeons, rodents, reptiles, and other urban wildlife. Their adaptability enables them to thrive close to human activity.
Breeding and Nesting
The breeding season for red-tailed hawks in North Carolina runs from March to July, peaking in April and May. Courtship includes aerial displays such as elaborate dives and spirals.
Red-tailed hawks build nests high up in large trees, often in mature pine trees along the coastal plain. They also use elevated man-made sites. Nests are assemblages of sticks lined with bark, leaves, and other soft materials. Old nests are often reused and expanded over successive years.
Females lay 1 to 3 eggs that hatch after about 35 days. The chicks fledge at 6 to 7 weeks old but remain dependent on parents for food and training for several more weeks. In North Carolina, pairs may raise one or two broods per breeding season.
Notable Nesting Concentrations
Some areas of North Carolina host especially high densities of nesting red-tailed hawks. These include:
- Pine forests of the Sandhills and coastal plain
- Rural areas near Jordan Lake
- Along the Cape Fear River corridor
- Around cities with ample nest sites like Raleigh and Charlotte
Relationship with Humans
Red-tailed hawks coexist well with human presence across North Carolina. They are one of the most recognizable and admired native birds for many residents.
Seeing red-tailed hawks perched or soaring is a common sight. They help control rodent and rabbit populations in agricultural areas. Many people enjoy watching urban red-tails hunt and raise young.
However, red-tails sometimes come into conflict with humans. Collisions with aircraft occasionally occur, especially during take-off and landing. They may prey on small pets or livestock on rare occasions. Nesting red-tails can perceive human activity as a threat.
But in general, red-tailed hawks tolerate human disturbance remarkably well. They provide free rodent control services and thrilling up-close wildlife encounters for city dwellers.
Cultural Symbolism
The red-tailed hawk is steeped in cultural symbolism across North American societies. Common associations include:
- Strength, power, courage
- Vision, focus, watchfulness
- Independence, leadership
- Confidence, success
For Native Americans, spotting a red-tailed hawk often carries deep spiritual meaning and insight. For many modern Americans, the red-tail represents wilderness, freedom, and strength of character.
Conclusion
In summary, red-tailed hawks are an iconic and abundant raptor species found across the entire state of North Carolina. They thrive in diverse habitats from the Appalachian highlands to the coastal cities.
Red-tailed hawks play an important ecological role as predators. They also provide aesthetic and cultural enrichment for North Carolinians lucky enough to see them soaring overhead or raising young. With stable populations statewide, North Carolinians will continue to benefit from these remarkable birds of prey into the future.