Illinois’ Red-Tailed Hawks: 5 Things You May Not Know About Them

There has been a lot of red-tailed hawk screeching going on lately. Juvenile red-tailed hawks have been politely asked to leave their nests by their parents and go out and hunt on their own, and the screeching is the juveniles begging mom and dad for some food (and to reconsider their eviction).

So, if you've noticed a large brownish or reddish colored bird perched on a light pole, telephone pole, or even a radio tower somewhere in Illinois, chances are you've spotted a red-tailed hawk.

They're one of the state's most common birds of prey, and once you know what to look for, you'll start seeing them everywhere.

a hawk is perched on a tree branch

Let's Take A Look At 5 Things You May Not Have Known About Red-Tailed Hawks In Illinois

Depending on where you live, you're probably seeing them all the time.

1. They're everywhere in Illinois.
Red-tailed hawks are year-round residents across the state. Some stay put all year long, while others migrate in from farther north during the winter, making them even more common when the weather turns cold.

2. Hollywood gave them one of the most famous voices in the world.
That fierce scream you hear every time a bald eagle swoops across a movie screen? It's almost always a red-tailed hawk. Real bald eagles sound surprisingly high-pitched and a lot closer to a series of chirps and whistles than a dramatic battle cry. Movie producers decided decades ago that the hawk simply sounded much more impressive.

brown and white eagle on green grass field during daytime

But Wait, There's More...

3. They don't need to fly constantly to hunt.
Those hawks sitting on utility poles aren't taking a break, they're working. Red-tailed hawks prefer to scan fields from high perches, watching for rabbits, mice, squirrels, snakes, and other prey (like other birds) before gliding down for the catch.

4. They can weigh less than you think.
Even though they're among North America's largest hawks, an adult female—larger than the male—typically weighs only around three pounds. Their broad wings provide the lift, allowing them to soar effortlessly on rising warm air called thermals.

5. That famous red tail isn't always there.
Young red-tailed hawks don't actually have red tails. Juveniles have brown, banded tails and don't develop the rich rusty-red feathers until they're about a year old, which means many people mistake young birds for an entirely different species.