http://www.ck12.org Chapter 12. Understanding Biodiversity: Animals: Birds
12.3 Buteo jamaicensis: Red-tailed Hawk
Common Name
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Chickenhawk
- Buzzard Hawk
- Hen Hawk
- Mouse Hawk
- Red Hawk
Description
Buteo jamaicensis, the red-tailed hawk, has brown wings and an orangish red tail. It has a wingspan of about 3.7
ft. The red-tailed hawk’s call is used in Hollywood as the symbol of power. “Red-tailed” refers to the brick-red tail
of adult hawks.Hawkcomes from the base word hab, meaning “to seize or take hold of”. The word evolved into
Middle English hauk from which now is said “hawk”.Buteois a Latin term for falcon or hawk andjamaicensisis in
reference to Jamaica, where the bird was first scientifically studied.
The complete taxonomic classification is:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves