Pathfinder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Field Guide/Birds/Buteo jamaicensis

2006-07-11T18:41:18Z

65.41.215.150: /* Red-tailed Hawks and Humans */

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Red-tailed Hawk| status = LC
| image = RedtailedHawk23.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Buteo]]''
| species = '''''B. jamaicensis'''''
| binomial = ''Buteo jamaicensis''
| binomial_authority = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin]], 1788)
}}

The '''Red-tailed Hawk''' (''Buteo jamaicensis'') is a large [[Buzzard|hawk]] which breeds from western [[Alaska]] and northern [[Canada]] to [[Panama]] and the [[West Indies]]. Males are typically smaller than females, generally weighing between 800-1100 grams and measuring 45-56 cm in length. Females typically average between 1100-1300 grams and measure 50-65 cm in length. It is one of three species colloquially known in the [[United States]] as the [[Chickenhawk (bird)|Chickenhawk]]. It is the most common [[North American]] hawk.

==Description==
Birds of this species have a dark mark along the leading edge of the underwing, between the body and the wrist (the [[patagium]]). Most but not all color variations have a dark band across the belly. In most, the adults' tails are rusty red above, and juveniles have narrow brown and pale bands. The main western [[North America]]n population has bands on the adults' rusty tails as well and has varied plumage, organized into three main color types or [[Polymorphism (biology)|morphs]].

Immature birds, or birds that are only a few years old, can also readily be identified by having yellowish pupils. As the bird attains full maturity over the course of 3-4 years, the pupils slowly darken into a reddish-brown hue.

* Light-morph birds are mainly brown on the upperparts and very pale brown or buff on the underparts and underwings; they show a belly band.
* Rufous-morph birds are darker and redder, with reddish-brown rather than white on the underparts. The belly band may be barely visible.
* Dark-morph birds are very dark brown on both upperparts and underparts; they have lighter parts on the underwings.

Almost all of the main eastern population are light-morph, with whiter underparts and paler markings than western birds and with solid rust-red tails as adults.

Other variations are:
* '''Harlan's Hawk''' usually has blackish plumage contrasting with white undersides of the flight feathers; the tail may be reddish or grey and is longitudinally streaked rather than barred. It breeds in [[Alaska]] and northwestern [[Canada]] and winters from [[Nebraska]] and [[Iowa]] to [[Texas]] and northern [[Louisiana]]. It is sometimes considered a separate species, ''Buteo harlani''.
* '''Krider's Hawk''' is paler than other red-tails, especially on the head; the tail may be pinkish or white. It is mainly found in the central [[prairie]]s of the [[United States]].

Resident breeding birds in [[Central America]] have cinnamon underparts which enables them to be easily distinguished from the paler-breasted wintering migrants.

==Behavior==

Their breeding habitat is open country with high perches. They build a stick nest in a large tree, in a [[cactus]], or on a cliff ledge 35 m or higher above ground; they may also nest on man-made structures. Both sexes build the sturdy nest, made of different sized twigs and sticks, lined with fresh green foliage and evergreen sprigs. The fresh sprigs are regularly replaced during incubation. Up to four eggs may be laid at daily intervals. The shells are colored a dull or bluish-white with a granulated or smooth surface, never glossy. There may be some splotches of various shades of brown. Incubation is by the female from 28 to 35 days, during which time she is fed by the male. The young are able to fly at about 45 days.

In most of the [[United States]], Red-tailed Hawks are permanent residents, but northern breeding birds [[bird migration|migrate]] south in winter. Throughout their range in the U.S., Red-tailed Hawks receive special legal protections under the [[Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918]]. They have a complex relationship with humans, capable of both controlling rodent and other mammalian [[pest (animal)|pest]]s, and of on occasion being one, taking valuable fowl (which has led to them being one of the species described as a [[chickenhawk (bird)|chickenhawk]]).

Red-tailed hawks prefer to wait on a high perch and swoop down on prey; they also patrol open areas in flight. They mainly eat small [[mammal|mammals]], [[bird|birds]] and [[reptile|reptiles]]. Their favorite prey varies with regional and seasonal availability but includes most types of rodents, rabbits, pheasant, grouse, quail, rattle snakes, copperheads, lizards, and, when near the water's edge, carp and catfish. Those that live in cities may prefer pigeons and starlings, both of which are plentiful in many urban areas.

In flight, these hawks soar with wings in a slight [[dihedral]], flapping as little as possible. They sometimes hover on beating wings and sometimes "kite", or remain stationary above the ground by soaring into the wind. When soaring or flapping their wings, they typically travel from 30 km/h to 65 km/h but when diving, they reach speeds as high as 195 km/h.

The Red-tailed Hawk is common and widespread, partly because it has benefited from the historic settlement patterns across North America. The clearing of trees in the east of North America provided hunting areas, and the practice of sparing woodlots left nest sites. Conversely, the planting of trees in the west provided nest sites where there had been none. The construction of highways with treeless medians and shoulders and with utility poles alongside provided perfect habitat for perch-hunting, so Red-tailed Hawks are now a common sight along highways. Finally, these birds have moved into [[New York City|New York]] and other U.S. cities, as in the successful non-fiction book ''Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park'', by [[Marie Winn]]. Winn wrote about one of the most famous of them, [[Pale Male]].

== Red-tailed Hawks and Humans ==

Like other [[hawk]]s and [[falcons]], the red-tailed hawk is sometimes used in [[falconry]], for which extensive training and a permit are required.

The [[feather]]s and parts of the red-tailed [[hawk]] are considered [[sacred]] to many [[indigenous]] people and, like the feathers of the [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]], are sometimes used in religious ceremonies and found adorning the regalia of many [[Native Americans]] in the United States. The feathers of the red-tailed hawk, most especially their distinctive tail feathers, make them a popular item in the Native American community. Like [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]] feathers and parts, those of the red-tailed hawk are regulated by the [[eagle feather law]] (Title 50 Part 22 Code of Federal Regulations) which governs the possession of feathers and parts of migratory birds.

==Trivia==

A certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is probably one of the most often heard [[List of movie clichés|cinematic sound cliché]]s. This high, fierce scream is often featured in the background of [[adventure film|adventure movies]] to give a sense of [[wilderness]] to the scene.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:RT_hawks.jpg|Two chicks in nest, Massachusetts
Image:Red-tailed Hawk KSC00pp0245.jpg|Adult bird in Florida (This picture is incorrectly labeled as a Red-tailed Hawk. This is actually a juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).)
Image:RedTailedHawkSoaring.jpg|Light morph, in gliding flight
Image:Redtailedhawkap.jpg|Juvenile eastern race
Image:Red-tailed hawk02.jpg|On fence post in Bexar county, Texas
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 002.jpg|Bird in San Francisco
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 004.jpg|Flying over the sea
Image:IMGP0393.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, standing, Albany, New York
Image:IMGP0390.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, Albany, New York
</gallery>

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49438|title=Buteo jamaicensis|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* Stiles and Skutch, ''A guide to the birds of Costa Rica'' ISBN 0-0814-9600-4
* Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR), ''Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries PART 22—EAGLE PERMITS''[http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title50/50cfr22_main_02.tpl]
* [http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/migtrea.html Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918]

== External links ==
*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.html Cornell University Ornithology Lab page about the Red-tailed Hawk, including samples of their cry]
*[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i3370id.html USGS web page about the Red-tailed Hawk]
*[http://www.library.fordham.edu/whatsnew/hawks.html Red-Tailed Hawks Pictures]
* [http://www.geocities.com/eaglefeatherlaw Religious Freedom with Raptors]

[[Category:Falconry]]
[[category:Birds of prey]]
[[Category:Buteoninae]]
[[Category:Birds of Puerto Rico]]

[[fr:Buse à queue rousse]]
[[it:Buteo jamaicensis]]
[[ja:アカオノスリ]]
[[pt:Búteo-de-cauda-vermelha]]

Field Guide/Birds/Buteo jamaicensis

2006-07-11T18:37:50Z

65.41.215.150: /* External links */

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Red-tailed Hawk| status = LC
| image = RedtailedHawk23.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Buteo]]''
| species = '''''B. jamaicensis'''''
| binomial = ''Buteo jamaicensis''
| binomial_authority = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin]], 1788)
}}

The '''Red-tailed Hawk''' (''Buteo jamaicensis'') is a large [[Buzzard|hawk]] which breeds from western [[Alaska]] and northern [[Canada]] to [[Panama]] and the [[West Indies]]. Males are typically smaller than females, generally weighing between 800-1100 grams and measuring 45-56 cm in length. Females typically average between 1100-1300 grams and measure 50-65 cm in length. It is one of three species colloquially known in the [[United States]] as the [[Chickenhawk (bird)|Chickenhawk]]. It is the most common [[North American]] hawk.

==Description==
Birds of this species have a dark mark along the leading edge of the underwing, between the body and the wrist (the [[patagium]]). Most but not all color variations have a dark band across the belly. In most, the adults' tails are rusty red above, and juveniles have narrow brown and pale bands. The main western [[North America]]n population has bands on the adults' rusty tails as well and has varied plumage, organized into three main color types or [[Polymorphism (biology)|morphs]].

Immature birds, or birds that are only a few years old, can also readily be identified by having yellowish pupils. As the bird attains full maturity over the course of 3-4 years, the pupils slowly darken into a reddish-brown hue.

* Light-morph birds are mainly brown on the upperparts and very pale brown or buff on the underparts and underwings; they show a belly band.
* Rufous-morph birds are darker and redder, with reddish-brown rather than white on the underparts. The belly band may be barely visible.
* Dark-morph birds are very dark brown on both upperparts and underparts; they have lighter parts on the underwings.

Almost all of the main eastern population are light-morph, with whiter underparts and paler markings than western birds and with solid rust-red tails as adults.

Other variations are:
* '''Harlan's Hawk''' usually has blackish plumage contrasting with white undersides of the flight feathers; the tail may be reddish or grey and is longitudinally streaked rather than barred. It breeds in [[Alaska]] and northwestern [[Canada]] and winters from [[Nebraska]] and [[Iowa]] to [[Texas]] and northern [[Louisiana]]. It is sometimes considered a separate species, ''Buteo harlani''.
* '''Krider's Hawk''' is paler than other red-tails, especially on the head; the tail may be pinkish or white. It is mainly found in the central [[prairie]]s of the [[United States]].

Resident breeding birds in [[Central America]] have cinnamon underparts which enables them to be easily distinguished from the paler-breasted wintering migrants.

==Behavior==

Their breeding habitat is open country with high perches. They build a stick nest in a large tree, in a [[cactus]], or on a cliff ledge 35 m or higher above ground; they may also nest on man-made structures. Both sexes build the sturdy nest, made of different sized twigs and sticks, lined with fresh green foliage and evergreen sprigs. The fresh sprigs are regularly replaced during incubation. Up to four eggs may be laid at daily intervals. The shells are colored a dull or bluish-white with a granulated or smooth surface, never glossy. There may be some splotches of various shades of brown. Incubation is by the female from 28 to 35 days, during which time she is fed by the male. The young are able to fly at about 45 days.

In most of the [[United States]], Red-tailed Hawks are permanent residents, but northern breeding birds [[bird migration|migrate]] south in winter. Throughout their range in the U.S., Red-tailed Hawks receive special legal protections under the [[Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918]]. They have a complex relationship with humans, capable of both controlling rodent and other mammalian [[pest (animal)|pest]]s, and of on occasion being one, taking valuable fowl (which has led to them being one of the species described as a [[chickenhawk (bird)|chickenhawk]]).

Red-tailed hawks prefer to wait on a high perch and swoop down on prey; they also patrol open areas in flight. They mainly eat small [[mammal|mammals]], [[bird|birds]] and [[reptile|reptiles]]. Their favorite prey varies with regional and seasonal availability but includes most types of rodents, rabbits, pheasant, grouse, quail, rattle snakes, copperheads, lizards, and, when near the water's edge, carp and catfish. Those that live in cities may prefer pigeons and starlings, both of which are plentiful in many urban areas.

In flight, these hawks soar with wings in a slight [[dihedral]], flapping as little as possible. They sometimes hover on beating wings and sometimes "kite", or remain stationary above the ground by soaring into the wind. When soaring or flapping their wings, they typically travel from 30 km/h to 65 km/h but when diving, they reach speeds as high as 195 km/h.

The Red-tailed Hawk is common and widespread, partly because it has benefited from the historic settlement patterns across North America. The clearing of trees in the east of North America provided hunting areas, and the practice of sparing woodlots left nest sites. Conversely, the planting of trees in the west provided nest sites where there had been none. The construction of highways with treeless medians and shoulders and with utility poles alongside provided perfect habitat for perch-hunting, so Red-tailed Hawks are now a common sight along highways. Finally, these birds have moved into [[New York City|New York]] and other U.S. cities, as in the successful non-fiction book ''Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park'', by [[Marie Winn]]. Winn wrote about one of the most famous of them, [[Pale Male]].

== Red-tailed Hawks and Humans ==

Like other [[hawk]]s and [[falcons]], the red-tailed hawk is sometimes used in [[falconry]], for which extensive training and a permit are required.

The [[feather]]s and parts of the red-tailed hawk are considered [[sacred]] and, like the feathers of the [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]], are sometimes used in religious ceremonies and found adorning the regalia of many [[Native Americans]] in the United States. The feathers of the red-tailed hawk, most especially their distinctive tail feathers, make them a popular item in the Native American community. Like [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]] feathers and parts, those of the red-tailed hawk are regulated by the [[eagle feather law]] (Title 50 Part 22 Code of Federal Regulations) which governs the possession of feathers and parts of migratory birds.

==Trivia==

A certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is probably one of the most often heard [[List of movie clichés|cinematic sound cliché]]s. This high, fierce scream is often featured in the background of [[adventure film|adventure movies]] to give a sense of [[wilderness]] to the scene.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:RT_hawks.jpg|Two chicks in nest, Massachusetts
Image:Red-tailed Hawk KSC00pp0245.jpg|Adult bird in Florida (This picture is incorrectly labeled as a Red-tailed Hawk. This is actually a juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).)
Image:RedTailedHawkSoaring.jpg|Light morph, in gliding flight
Image:Redtailedhawkap.jpg|Juvenile eastern race
Image:Red-tailed hawk02.jpg|On fence post in Bexar county, Texas
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 002.jpg|Bird in San Francisco
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 004.jpg|Flying over the sea
Image:IMGP0393.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, standing, Albany, New York
Image:IMGP0390.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, Albany, New York
</gallery>

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49438|title=Buteo jamaicensis|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* Stiles and Skutch, ''A guide to the birds of Costa Rica'' ISBN 0-0814-9600-4
* Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR), ''Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries PART 22—EAGLE PERMITS''[http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title50/50cfr22_main_02.tpl]
* [http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/migtrea.html Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918]

== External links ==
*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.html Cornell University Ornithology Lab page about the Red-tailed Hawk, including samples of their cry]
*[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i3370id.html USGS web page about the Red-tailed Hawk]
*[http://www.library.fordham.edu/whatsnew/hawks.html Red-Tailed Hawks Pictures]
* [http://www.geocities.com/eaglefeatherlaw Religious Freedom with Raptors]

[[Category:Falconry]]
[[category:Birds of prey]]
[[Category:Buteoninae]]
[[Category:Birds of Puerto Rico]]

[[fr:Buse à queue rousse]]
[[it:Buteo jamaicensis]]
[[ja:アカオノスリ]]
[[pt:Búteo-de-cauda-vermelha]]

Field Guide/Birds/Buteo jamaicensis

2006-07-11T18:37:10Z

65.41.215.150: /* References */

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Red-tailed Hawk| status = LC
| image = RedtailedHawk23.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Buteo]]''
| species = '''''B. jamaicensis'''''
| binomial = ''Buteo jamaicensis''
| binomial_authority = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin]], 1788)
}}

The '''Red-tailed Hawk''' (''Buteo jamaicensis'') is a large [[Buzzard|hawk]] which breeds from western [[Alaska]] and northern [[Canada]] to [[Panama]] and the [[West Indies]]. Males are typically smaller than females, generally weighing between 800-1100 grams and measuring 45-56 cm in length. Females typically average between 1100-1300 grams and measure 50-65 cm in length. It is one of three species colloquially known in the [[United States]] as the [[Chickenhawk (bird)|Chickenhawk]]. It is the most common [[North American]] hawk.

==Description==
Birds of this species have a dark mark along the leading edge of the underwing, between the body and the wrist (the [[patagium]]). Most but not all color variations have a dark band across the belly. In most, the adults' tails are rusty red above, and juveniles have narrow brown and pale bands. The main western [[North America]]n population has bands on the adults' rusty tails as well and has varied plumage, organized into three main color types or [[Polymorphism (biology)|morphs]].

Immature birds, or birds that are only a few years old, can also readily be identified by having yellowish pupils. As the bird attains full maturity over the course of 3-4 years, the pupils slowly darken into a reddish-brown hue.

* Light-morph birds are mainly brown on the upperparts and very pale brown or buff on the underparts and underwings; they show a belly band.
* Rufous-morph birds are darker and redder, with reddish-brown rather than white on the underparts. The belly band may be barely visible.
* Dark-morph birds are very dark brown on both upperparts and underparts; they have lighter parts on the underwings.

Almost all of the main eastern population are light-morph, with whiter underparts and paler markings than western birds and with solid rust-red tails as adults.

Other variations are:
* '''Harlan's Hawk''' usually has blackish plumage contrasting with white undersides of the flight feathers; the tail may be reddish or grey and is longitudinally streaked rather than barred. It breeds in [[Alaska]] and northwestern [[Canada]] and winters from [[Nebraska]] and [[Iowa]] to [[Texas]] and northern [[Louisiana]]. It is sometimes considered a separate species, ''Buteo harlani''.
* '''Krider's Hawk''' is paler than other red-tails, especially on the head; the tail may be pinkish or white. It is mainly found in the central [[prairie]]s of the [[United States]].

Resident breeding birds in [[Central America]] have cinnamon underparts which enables them to be easily distinguished from the paler-breasted wintering migrants.

==Behavior==

Their breeding habitat is open country with high perches. They build a stick nest in a large tree, in a [[cactus]], or on a cliff ledge 35 m or higher above ground; they may also nest on man-made structures. Both sexes build the sturdy nest, made of different sized twigs and sticks, lined with fresh green foliage and evergreen sprigs. The fresh sprigs are regularly replaced during incubation. Up to four eggs may be laid at daily intervals. The shells are colored a dull or bluish-white with a granulated or smooth surface, never glossy. There may be some splotches of various shades of brown. Incubation is by the female from 28 to 35 days, during which time she is fed by the male. The young are able to fly at about 45 days.

In most of the [[United States]], Red-tailed Hawks are permanent residents, but northern breeding birds [[bird migration|migrate]] south in winter. Throughout their range in the U.S., Red-tailed Hawks receive special legal protections under the [[Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918]]. They have a complex relationship with humans, capable of both controlling rodent and other mammalian [[pest (animal)|pest]]s, and of on occasion being one, taking valuable fowl (which has led to them being one of the species described as a [[chickenhawk (bird)|chickenhawk]]).

Red-tailed hawks prefer to wait on a high perch and swoop down on prey; they also patrol open areas in flight. They mainly eat small [[mammal|mammals]], [[bird|birds]] and [[reptile|reptiles]]. Their favorite prey varies with regional and seasonal availability but includes most types of rodents, rabbits, pheasant, grouse, quail, rattle snakes, copperheads, lizards, and, when near the water's edge, carp and catfish. Those that live in cities may prefer pigeons and starlings, both of which are plentiful in many urban areas.

In flight, these hawks soar with wings in a slight [[dihedral]], flapping as little as possible. They sometimes hover on beating wings and sometimes "kite", or remain stationary above the ground by soaring into the wind. When soaring or flapping their wings, they typically travel from 30 km/h to 65 km/h but when diving, they reach speeds as high as 195 km/h.

The Red-tailed Hawk is common and widespread, partly because it has benefited from the historic settlement patterns across North America. The clearing of trees in the east of North America provided hunting areas, and the practice of sparing woodlots left nest sites. Conversely, the planting of trees in the west provided nest sites where there had been none. The construction of highways with treeless medians and shoulders and with utility poles alongside provided perfect habitat for perch-hunting, so Red-tailed Hawks are now a common sight along highways. Finally, these birds have moved into [[New York City|New York]] and other U.S. cities, as in the successful non-fiction book ''Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park'', by [[Marie Winn]]. Winn wrote about one of the most famous of them, [[Pale Male]].

== Red-tailed Hawks and Humans ==

Like other [[hawk]]s and [[falcons]], the red-tailed hawk is sometimes used in [[falconry]], for which extensive training and a permit are required.

The [[feather]]s and parts of the red-tailed hawk are considered [[sacred]] and, like the feathers of the [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]], are sometimes used in religious ceremonies and found adorning the regalia of many [[Native Americans]] in the United States. The feathers of the red-tailed hawk, most especially their distinctive tail feathers, make them a popular item in the Native American community. Like [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]] feathers and parts, those of the red-tailed hawk are regulated by the [[eagle feather law]] (Title 50 Part 22 Code of Federal Regulations) which governs the possession of feathers and parts of migratory birds.

==Trivia==

A certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is probably one of the most often heard [[List of movie clichés|cinematic sound cliché]]s. This high, fierce scream is often featured in the background of [[adventure film|adventure movies]] to give a sense of [[wilderness]] to the scene.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:RT_hawks.jpg|Two chicks in nest, Massachusetts
Image:Red-tailed Hawk KSC00pp0245.jpg|Adult bird in Florida (This picture is incorrectly labeled as a Red-tailed Hawk. This is actually a juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).)
Image:RedTailedHawkSoaring.jpg|Light morph, in gliding flight
Image:Redtailedhawkap.jpg|Juvenile eastern race
Image:Red-tailed hawk02.jpg|On fence post in Bexar county, Texas
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 002.jpg|Bird in San Francisco
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 004.jpg|Flying over the sea
Image:IMGP0393.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, standing, Albany, New York
Image:IMGP0390.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, Albany, New York
</gallery>

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49438|title=Buteo jamaicensis|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* Stiles and Skutch, ''A guide to the birds of Costa Rica'' ISBN 0-0814-9600-4
* Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR), ''Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries PART 22—EAGLE PERMITS''[http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title50/50cfr22_main_02.tpl]
* [http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/migtrea.html Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918]

== External links ==
*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.html Cornell University Ornithology Lab page about the Red-tailed Hawk, including samples of their cry]
*[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i3370id.html USGS web page about the Red-tailed Hawk]
*[http://www.library.fordham.edu/whatsnew/hawks.html Red-Tailed Hawks Pictures]

[[Category:Falconry]]
[[category:Birds of prey]]
[[Category:Buteoninae]]
[[Category:Birds of Puerto Rico]]

[[fr:Buse à queue rousse]]
[[it:Buteo jamaicensis]]
[[ja:アカオノスリ]]
[[pt:Búteo-de-cauda-vermelha]]

Field Guide/Birds/Buteo jamaicensis

2006-07-11T18:35:40Z

65.41.215.150: /* References */

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Red-tailed Hawk| status = LC
| image = RedtailedHawk23.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Buteo]]''
| species = '''''B. jamaicensis'''''
| binomial = ''Buteo jamaicensis''
| binomial_authority = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin]], 1788)
}}

The '''Red-tailed Hawk''' (''Buteo jamaicensis'') is a large [[Buzzard|hawk]] which breeds from western [[Alaska]] and northern [[Canada]] to [[Panama]] and the [[West Indies]]. Males are typically smaller than females, generally weighing between 800-1100 grams and measuring 45-56 cm in length. Females typically average between 1100-1300 grams and measure 50-65 cm in length. It is one of three species colloquially known in the [[United States]] as the [[Chickenhawk (bird)|Chickenhawk]]. It is the most common [[North American]] hawk.

==Description==
Birds of this species have a dark mark along the leading edge of the underwing, between the body and the wrist (the [[patagium]]). Most but not all color variations have a dark band across the belly. In most, the adults' tails are rusty red above, and juveniles have narrow brown and pale bands. The main western [[North America]]n population has bands on the adults' rusty tails as well and has varied plumage, organized into three main color types or [[Polymorphism (biology)|morphs]].

Immature birds, or birds that are only a few years old, can also readily be identified by having yellowish pupils. As the bird attains full maturity over the course of 3-4 years, the pupils slowly darken into a reddish-brown hue.

* Light-morph birds are mainly brown on the upperparts and very pale brown or buff on the underparts and underwings; they show a belly band.
* Rufous-morph birds are darker and redder, with reddish-brown rather than white on the underparts. The belly band may be barely visible.
* Dark-morph birds are very dark brown on both upperparts and underparts; they have lighter parts on the underwings.

Almost all of the main eastern population are light-morph, with whiter underparts and paler markings than western birds and with solid rust-red tails as adults.

Other variations are:
* '''Harlan's Hawk''' usually has blackish plumage contrasting with white undersides of the flight feathers; the tail may be reddish or grey and is longitudinally streaked rather than barred. It breeds in [[Alaska]] and northwestern [[Canada]] and winters from [[Nebraska]] and [[Iowa]] to [[Texas]] and northern [[Louisiana]]. It is sometimes considered a separate species, ''Buteo harlani''.
* '''Krider's Hawk''' is paler than other red-tails, especially on the head; the tail may be pinkish or white. It is mainly found in the central [[prairie]]s of the [[United States]].

Resident breeding birds in [[Central America]] have cinnamon underparts which enables them to be easily distinguished from the paler-breasted wintering migrants.

==Behavior==

Their breeding habitat is open country with high perches. They build a stick nest in a large tree, in a [[cactus]], or on a cliff ledge 35 m or higher above ground; they may also nest on man-made structures. Both sexes build the sturdy nest, made of different sized twigs and sticks, lined with fresh green foliage and evergreen sprigs. The fresh sprigs are regularly replaced during incubation. Up to four eggs may be laid at daily intervals. The shells are colored a dull or bluish-white with a granulated or smooth surface, never glossy. There may be some splotches of various shades of brown. Incubation is by the female from 28 to 35 days, during which time she is fed by the male. The young are able to fly at about 45 days.

In most of the [[United States]], Red-tailed Hawks are permanent residents, but northern breeding birds [[bird migration|migrate]] south in winter. Throughout their range in the U.S., Red-tailed Hawks receive special legal protections under the [[Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918]]. They have a complex relationship with humans, capable of both controlling rodent and other mammalian [[pest (animal)|pest]]s, and of on occasion being one, taking valuable fowl (which has led to them being one of the species described as a [[chickenhawk (bird)|chickenhawk]]).

Red-tailed hawks prefer to wait on a high perch and swoop down on prey; they also patrol open areas in flight. They mainly eat small [[mammal|mammals]], [[bird|birds]] and [[reptile|reptiles]]. Their favorite prey varies with regional and seasonal availability but includes most types of rodents, rabbits, pheasant, grouse, quail, rattle snakes, copperheads, lizards, and, when near the water's edge, carp and catfish. Those that live in cities may prefer pigeons and starlings, both of which are plentiful in many urban areas.

In flight, these hawks soar with wings in a slight [[dihedral]], flapping as little as possible. They sometimes hover on beating wings and sometimes "kite", or remain stationary above the ground by soaring into the wind. When soaring or flapping their wings, they typically travel from 30 km/h to 65 km/h but when diving, they reach speeds as high as 195 km/h.

The Red-tailed Hawk is common and widespread, partly because it has benefited from the historic settlement patterns across North America. The clearing of trees in the east of North America provided hunting areas, and the practice of sparing woodlots left nest sites. Conversely, the planting of trees in the west provided nest sites where there had been none. The construction of highways with treeless medians and shoulders and with utility poles alongside provided perfect habitat for perch-hunting, so Red-tailed Hawks are now a common sight along highways. Finally, these birds have moved into [[New York City|New York]] and other U.S. cities, as in the successful non-fiction book ''Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park'', by [[Marie Winn]]. Winn wrote about one of the most famous of them, [[Pale Male]].

== Red-tailed Hawks and Humans ==

Like other [[hawk]]s and [[falcons]], the red-tailed hawk is sometimes used in [[falconry]], for which extensive training and a permit are required.

The [[feather]]s and parts of the red-tailed hawk are considered [[sacred]] and, like the feathers of the [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]], are sometimes used in religious ceremonies and found adorning the regalia of many [[Native Americans]] in the United States. The feathers of the red-tailed hawk, most especially their distinctive tail feathers, make them a popular item in the Native American community. Like [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]] feathers and parts, those of the red-tailed hawk are regulated by the [[eagle feather law]] (Title 50 Part 22 Code of Federal Regulations) which governs the possession of feathers and parts of migratory birds.

==Trivia==

A certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is probably one of the most often heard [[List of movie clichés|cinematic sound cliché]]s. This high, fierce scream is often featured in the background of [[adventure film|adventure movies]] to give a sense of [[wilderness]] to the scene.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:RT_hawks.jpg|Two chicks in nest, Massachusetts
Image:Red-tailed Hawk KSC00pp0245.jpg|Adult bird in Florida (This picture is incorrectly labeled as a Red-tailed Hawk. This is actually a juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).)
Image:RedTailedHawkSoaring.jpg|Light morph, in gliding flight
Image:Redtailedhawkap.jpg|Juvenile eastern race
Image:Red-tailed hawk02.jpg|On fence post in Bexar county, Texas
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 002.jpg|Bird in San Francisco
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 004.jpg|Flying over the sea
Image:IMGP0393.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, standing, Albany, New York
Image:IMGP0390.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, Albany, New York
</gallery>

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49438|title=Buteo jamaicensis|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* Stiles and Skutch, ''A guide to the birds of Costa Rica'' ISBN 0-0814-9600-4
* Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR), ''Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries PART 22—EAGLE PERMITS''[http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title50/50cfr22_main_02.tpl]

== External links ==
*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.html Cornell University Ornithology Lab page about the Red-tailed Hawk, including samples of their cry]
*[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i3370id.html USGS web page about the Red-tailed Hawk]
*[http://www.library.fordham.edu/whatsnew/hawks.html Red-Tailed Hawks Pictures]

[[Category:Falconry]]
[[category:Birds of prey]]
[[Category:Buteoninae]]
[[Category:Birds of Puerto Rico]]

[[fr:Buse à queue rousse]]
[[it:Buteo jamaicensis]]
[[ja:アカオノスリ]]
[[pt:Búteo-de-cauda-vermelha]]

Field Guide/Birds/Buteo jamaicensis

2006-07-11T18:34:29Z

65.41.215.150: /* Hawks and Humans */

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Red-tailed Hawk| status = LC
| image = RedtailedHawk23.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Buteo]]''
| species = '''''B. jamaicensis'''''
| binomial = ''Buteo jamaicensis''
| binomial_authority = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin]], 1788)
}}

The '''Red-tailed Hawk''' (''Buteo jamaicensis'') is a large [[Buzzard|hawk]] which breeds from western [[Alaska]] and northern [[Canada]] to [[Panama]] and the [[West Indies]]. Males are typically smaller than females, generally weighing between 800-1100 grams and measuring 45-56 cm in length. Females typically average between 1100-1300 grams and measure 50-65 cm in length. It is one of three species colloquially known in the [[United States]] as the [[Chickenhawk (bird)|Chickenhawk]]. It is the most common [[North American]] hawk.

==Description==
Birds of this species have a dark mark along the leading edge of the underwing, between the body and the wrist (the [[patagium]]). Most but not all color variations have a dark band across the belly. In most, the adults' tails are rusty red above, and juveniles have narrow brown and pale bands. The main western [[North America]]n population has bands on the adults' rusty tails as well and has varied plumage, organized into three main color types or [[Polymorphism (biology)|morphs]].

Immature birds, or birds that are only a few years old, can also readily be identified by having yellowish pupils. As the bird attains full maturity over the course of 3-4 years, the pupils slowly darken into a reddish-brown hue.

* Light-morph birds are mainly brown on the upperparts and very pale brown or buff on the underparts and underwings; they show a belly band.
* Rufous-morph birds are darker and redder, with reddish-brown rather than white on the underparts. The belly band may be barely visible.
* Dark-morph birds are very dark brown on both upperparts and underparts; they have lighter parts on the underwings.

Almost all of the main eastern population are light-morph, with whiter underparts and paler markings than western birds and with solid rust-red tails as adults.

Other variations are:
* '''Harlan's Hawk''' usually has blackish plumage contrasting with white undersides of the flight feathers; the tail may be reddish or grey and is longitudinally streaked rather than barred. It breeds in [[Alaska]] and northwestern [[Canada]] and winters from [[Nebraska]] and [[Iowa]] to [[Texas]] and northern [[Louisiana]]. It is sometimes considered a separate species, ''Buteo harlani''.
* '''Krider's Hawk''' is paler than other red-tails, especially on the head; the tail may be pinkish or white. It is mainly found in the central [[prairie]]s of the [[United States]].

Resident breeding birds in [[Central America]] have cinnamon underparts which enables them to be easily distinguished from the paler-breasted wintering migrants.

==Behavior==

Their breeding habitat is open country with high perches. They build a stick nest in a large tree, in a [[cactus]], or on a cliff ledge 35 m or higher above ground; they may also nest on man-made structures. Both sexes build the sturdy nest, made of different sized twigs and sticks, lined with fresh green foliage and evergreen sprigs. The fresh sprigs are regularly replaced during incubation. Up to four eggs may be laid at daily intervals. The shells are colored a dull or bluish-white with a granulated or smooth surface, never glossy. There may be some splotches of various shades of brown. Incubation is by the female from 28 to 35 days, during which time she is fed by the male. The young are able to fly at about 45 days.

In most of the [[United States]], Red-tailed Hawks are permanent residents, but northern breeding birds [[bird migration|migrate]] south in winter. Throughout their range in the U.S., Red-tailed Hawks receive special legal protections under the [[Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918]]. They have a complex relationship with humans, capable of both controlling rodent and other mammalian [[pest (animal)|pest]]s, and of on occasion being one, taking valuable fowl (which has led to them being one of the species described as a [[chickenhawk (bird)|chickenhawk]]).

Red-tailed hawks prefer to wait on a high perch and swoop down on prey; they also patrol open areas in flight. They mainly eat small [[mammal|mammals]], [[bird|birds]] and [[reptile|reptiles]]. Their favorite prey varies with regional and seasonal availability but includes most types of rodents, rabbits, pheasant, grouse, quail, rattle snakes, copperheads, lizards, and, when near the water's edge, carp and catfish. Those that live in cities may prefer pigeons and starlings, both of which are plentiful in many urban areas.

In flight, these hawks soar with wings in a slight [[dihedral]], flapping as little as possible. They sometimes hover on beating wings and sometimes "kite", or remain stationary above the ground by soaring into the wind. When soaring or flapping their wings, they typically travel from 30 km/h to 65 km/h but when diving, they reach speeds as high as 195 km/h.

The Red-tailed Hawk is common and widespread, partly because it has benefited from the historic settlement patterns across North America. The clearing of trees in the east of North America provided hunting areas, and the practice of sparing woodlots left nest sites. Conversely, the planting of trees in the west provided nest sites where there had been none. The construction of highways with treeless medians and shoulders and with utility poles alongside provided perfect habitat for perch-hunting, so Red-tailed Hawks are now a common sight along highways. Finally, these birds have moved into [[New York City|New York]] and other U.S. cities, as in the successful non-fiction book ''Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park'', by [[Marie Winn]]. Winn wrote about one of the most famous of them, [[Pale Male]].

== Red-tailed Hawks and Humans ==

Like other [[hawk]]s and [[falcons]], the red-tailed hawk is sometimes used in [[falconry]], for which extensive training and a permit are required.

The [[feather]]s and parts of the red-tailed hawk are considered [[sacred]] and, like the feathers of the [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]], are sometimes used in religious ceremonies and found adorning the regalia of many [[Native Americans]] in the United States. The feathers of the red-tailed hawk, most especially their distinctive tail feathers, make them a popular item in the Native American community. Like [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]] feathers and parts, those of the red-tailed hawk are regulated by the [[eagle feather law]] (Title 50 Part 22 Code of Federal Regulations) which governs the possession of feathers and parts of migratory birds.

==Trivia==

A certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is probably one of the most often heard [[List of movie clichés|cinematic sound cliché]]s. This high, fierce scream is often featured in the background of [[adventure film|adventure movies]] to give a sense of [[wilderness]] to the scene.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:RT_hawks.jpg|Two chicks in nest, Massachusetts
Image:Red-tailed Hawk KSC00pp0245.jpg|Adult bird in Florida (This picture is incorrectly labeled as a Red-tailed Hawk. This is actually a juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).)
Image:RedTailedHawkSoaring.jpg|Light morph, in gliding flight
Image:Redtailedhawkap.jpg|Juvenile eastern race
Image:Red-tailed hawk02.jpg|On fence post in Bexar county, Texas
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 002.jpg|Bird in San Francisco
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 004.jpg|Flying over the sea
Image:IMGP0393.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, standing, Albany, New York
Image:IMGP0390.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, Albany, New York
</gallery>

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49438|title=Buteo jamaicensis|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* Stiles and Skutch, ''A guide to the birds of Costa Rica'' ISBN 0-0814-9600-4

== External links ==
*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.html Cornell University Ornithology Lab page about the Red-tailed Hawk, including samples of their cry]
*[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i3370id.html USGS web page about the Red-tailed Hawk]
*[http://www.library.fordham.edu/whatsnew/hawks.html Red-Tailed Hawks Pictures]

[[Category:Falconry]]
[[category:Birds of prey]]
[[Category:Buteoninae]]
[[Category:Birds of Puerto Rico]]

[[fr:Buse à queue rousse]]
[[it:Buteo jamaicensis]]
[[ja:アカオノスリ]]
[[pt:Búteo-de-cauda-vermelha]]

Field Guide/Birds/Buteo jamaicensis

2006-07-11T18:34:07Z

65.41.215.150:

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Red-tailed Hawk| status = LC
| image = RedtailedHawk23.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Buteo]]''
| species = '''''B. jamaicensis'''''
| binomial = ''Buteo jamaicensis''
| binomial_authority = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin]], 1788)
}}

The '''Red-tailed Hawk''' (''Buteo jamaicensis'') is a large [[Buzzard|hawk]] which breeds from western [[Alaska]] and northern [[Canada]] to [[Panama]] and the [[West Indies]]. Males are typically smaller than females, generally weighing between 800-1100 grams and measuring 45-56 cm in length. Females typically average between 1100-1300 grams and measure 50-65 cm in length. It is one of three species colloquially known in the [[United States]] as the [[Chickenhawk (bird)|Chickenhawk]]. It is the most common [[North American]] hawk.

==Description==
Birds of this species have a dark mark along the leading edge of the underwing, between the body and the wrist (the [[patagium]]). Most but not all color variations have a dark band across the belly. In most, the adults' tails are rusty red above, and juveniles have narrow brown and pale bands. The main western [[North America]]n population has bands on the adults' rusty tails as well and has varied plumage, organized into three main color types or [[Polymorphism (biology)|morphs]].

Immature birds, or birds that are only a few years old, can also readily be identified by having yellowish pupils. As the bird attains full maturity over the course of 3-4 years, the pupils slowly darken into a reddish-brown hue.

* Light-morph birds are mainly brown on the upperparts and very pale brown or buff on the underparts and underwings; they show a belly band.
* Rufous-morph birds are darker and redder, with reddish-brown rather than white on the underparts. The belly band may be barely visible.
* Dark-morph birds are very dark brown on both upperparts and underparts; they have lighter parts on the underwings.

Almost all of the main eastern population are light-morph, with whiter underparts and paler markings than western birds and with solid rust-red tails as adults.

Other variations are:
* '''Harlan's Hawk''' usually has blackish plumage contrasting with white undersides of the flight feathers; the tail may be reddish or grey and is longitudinally streaked rather than barred. It breeds in [[Alaska]] and northwestern [[Canada]] and winters from [[Nebraska]] and [[Iowa]] to [[Texas]] and northern [[Louisiana]]. It is sometimes considered a separate species, ''Buteo harlani''.
* '''Krider's Hawk''' is paler than other red-tails, especially on the head; the tail may be pinkish or white. It is mainly found in the central [[prairie]]s of the [[United States]].

Resident breeding birds in [[Central America]] have cinnamon underparts which enables them to be easily distinguished from the paler-breasted wintering migrants.

==Behavior==

Their breeding habitat is open country with high perches. They build a stick nest in a large tree, in a [[cactus]], or on a cliff ledge 35 m or higher above ground; they may also nest on man-made structures. Both sexes build the sturdy nest, made of different sized twigs and sticks, lined with fresh green foliage and evergreen sprigs. The fresh sprigs are regularly replaced during incubation. Up to four eggs may be laid at daily intervals. The shells are colored a dull or bluish-white with a granulated or smooth surface, never glossy. There may be some splotches of various shades of brown. Incubation is by the female from 28 to 35 days, during which time she is fed by the male. The young are able to fly at about 45 days.

In most of the [[United States]], Red-tailed Hawks are permanent residents, but northern breeding birds [[bird migration|migrate]] south in winter. Throughout their range in the U.S., Red-tailed Hawks receive special legal protections under the [[Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918]]. They have a complex relationship with humans, capable of both controlling rodent and other mammalian [[pest (animal)|pest]]s, and of on occasion being one, taking valuable fowl (which has led to them being one of the species described as a [[chickenhawk (bird)|chickenhawk]]).

Red-tailed hawks prefer to wait on a high perch and swoop down on prey; they also patrol open areas in flight. They mainly eat small [[mammal|mammals]], [[bird|birds]] and [[reptile|reptiles]]. Their favorite prey varies with regional and seasonal availability but includes most types of rodents, rabbits, pheasant, grouse, quail, rattle snakes, copperheads, lizards, and, when near the water's edge, carp and catfish. Those that live in cities may prefer pigeons and starlings, both of which are plentiful in many urban areas.

In flight, these hawks soar with wings in a slight [[dihedral]], flapping as little as possible. They sometimes hover on beating wings and sometimes "kite", or remain stationary above the ground by soaring into the wind. When soaring or flapping their wings, they typically travel from 30 km/h to 65 km/h but when diving, they reach speeds as high as 195 km/h.

The Red-tailed Hawk is common and widespread, partly because it has benefited from the historic settlement patterns across North America. The clearing of trees in the east of North America provided hunting areas, and the practice of sparing woodlots left nest sites. Conversely, the planting of trees in the west provided nest sites where there had been none. The construction of highways with treeless medians and shoulders and with utility poles alongside provided perfect habitat for perch-hunting, so Red-tailed Hawks are now a common sight along highways. Finally, these birds have moved into [[New York City|New York]] and other U.S. cities, as in the successful non-fiction book ''Red-Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park'', by [[Marie Winn]]. Winn wrote about one of the most famous of them, [[Pale Male]].

== Hawks and Humans ==

Like other [[hawk]]s and [[falcons]], the red-tailed hawk is sometimes used in [[falconry]], for which extensive training and a permit are required.

The [[feather]]s and parts of the red-tailed hawk are considered [[sacred]] and, like the feathers of the [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]], are sometimes used in religious ceremonies and found adorning the regalia of many [[Native Americans]] in the United States. The feathers of the red-tailed hawk, most especially their distinctive tail feathers, make them a popular item in the Native American community. Like [[bald eagle]] and [[golden eagle]] feathers and parts, those of the red-tailed hawk are regulated by the [[eagle feather law]] (Title 50 Part 22 Code of Federal Regulations) which governs the possession of feathers and parts of migratory birds.

==Trivia==

A certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk is probably one of the most often heard [[List of movie clichés|cinematic sound cliché]]s. This high, fierce scream is often featured in the background of [[adventure film|adventure movies]] to give a sense of [[wilderness]] to the scene.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:RT_hawks.jpg|Two chicks in nest, Massachusetts
Image:Red-tailed Hawk KSC00pp0245.jpg|Adult bird in Florida (This picture is incorrectly labeled as a Red-tailed Hawk. This is actually a juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).)
Image:RedTailedHawkSoaring.jpg|Light morph, in gliding flight
Image:Redtailedhawkap.jpg|Juvenile eastern race
Image:Red-tailed hawk02.jpg|On fence post in Bexar county, Texas
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 002.jpg|Bird in San Francisco
Image:Buteo jamaicensis 004.jpg|Flying over the sea
Image:IMGP0393.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, standing, Albany, New York
Image:IMGP0390.JPG|Red-Tailed Hawk, Albany, New York
</gallery>

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49438|title=Buteo jamaicensis|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* Stiles and Skutch, ''A guide to the birds of Costa Rica'' ISBN 0-0814-9600-4

== External links ==
*[http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-tailed_Hawk.html Cornell University Ornithology Lab page about the Red-tailed Hawk, including samples of their cry]
*[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i3370id.html USGS web page about the Red-tailed Hawk]
*[http://www.library.fordham.edu/whatsnew/hawks.html Red-Tailed Hawks Pictures]

[[Category:Falconry]]
[[category:Birds of prey]]
[[Category:Buteoninae]]
[[Category:Birds of Puerto Rico]]

[[fr:Buse à queue rousse]]
[[it:Buteo jamaicensis]]
[[ja:アカオノスリ]]
[[pt:Búteo-de-cauda-vermelha]]

Field Guide/Birds/Aquila chrysaetos

2006-07-10T21:33:16Z

65.41.215.150: /* References */

{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Golden Eagle
| status = LC
| image = GoldenEagle1.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Eagle|Aquila]]''
| species = '''''A. chrysaetos'''''
| binomial = ''Aquila chrysaetos''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1758]]
}}

The '''Golden Eagle''' (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is one of the best known [[bird of prey|birds of prey]] in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all [[eagle]]s, it belongs to the family [[Accipitridae]].

There are five [[subspecies]] of the Golden Eagle:

* '''Eurasian Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. chrysaetos'')
* '''American Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. canadensis'')
* '''Spanish Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. homeryi'')
* '''Japanese Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. japonica'')
* '''Russian Berkut''' (''A. c. daphanea'')

Golden Eagles are renowned for their striking appearance and combining power with agility in flight.

== Distribution ==

At one time, the Golden Eagle lived in temperate [[Europe]], North [[Asia]], [[North America]], North [[Africa]] and [[Japan]]. In most areas this bird is now a mountain-dweller, but in former centuries it also bred in the plains and the forests. In recent years it has started to breed in lowland areas again (Sweden, Denmark).
[[Image:GoldenEagle3.jpg|thumb|right|Golden Eagle swooping down to land]]
There was a great decline in Central Europe, and the Golden Eagle is now restricted to the higher central Appennine regions of Italy[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abruzzo_National_Park&redirect=no source], and the [[Alps]]. In [[Britain]], there are about 420 pairs left in the [[Scottish highlands]], and between [[1969]] and [[2004]] they bred in the English [[Lake District]]. In North America the situation is not as dramatic, but there has still been a noticeable decline.

In Central Asia, Golden Eagles sometimes are trained for [[falconry]], and in [[Kazakhstan]] there are still hunters using these eagles in order to catch deer and antelopes.

Efforts are being made to re-introduce the species in [[Ireland]], where they had been extinct since the early 20th Century. Thirty-five birds have been released into the wild since 2001.

== Reproduction ==
[[Image:GoldenEagle2.jpg|thumb|right|Golden Eagle in flight]]

A pair of Golden Eagles remains together for life. They build several [[eyrie]]s within their territory and use them alternately for several years. The nest consists of heavy tree branches, upholstered with grass.

Old eyries may be 2 metres in diameter and 1 metre in height, as the eagles enlarge their nests every year. If the eyrie is situated on a tree, supporting tree branches may break because of the weight of the nest.

The female lays two eggs between January and May (depending on the area). After 45 days the young hatch. They are entirely white and are fed for fifty days before they are able to make their first flight attempts and eat on their own. In most cases only the older chick, which takes most of the food, survives, while the younger one dies before leaving the eyrie.

== Physical Characteristics ==

Adult Golden Eagles have an average length of 75-85 cm (37-40"), a wingspan of 175-200 cm (70-80"), and a weight of 3 to 5 kg. As in all birds of prey, the females are generally slightly larger than the males.

== Hunting ==
Golden Eagles often have a division of labour while hunting: one partner drives the prey to its waiting partner. Their prey includes [[marmot]]s, [[hare]]s and [[mouse|mice]], and sometimes [[bird]]s, [[marten]]s, [[fox]]es and young [[deer]]. Large [[mammal]]s like [[chamois]] or adult deer can only be taken if they are wounded or sick. In the US, Golden Eagles often take lambs as prey, providing a significant source of mortality and earning the enmity of sheep ranchers.

== Golden Eagles as Religious Objects ==

The golden [[eagle]] is a sacred bird in some cultures and the [[feathers]] of the golden [[eagle]], like the [[bald eagle]], are central to many [[religious]] and [[spiritual]] customs, most notably amongst [[Native Americans]]. [[Native Americans]] revere [[eagle]]s as [[sacred]] religious objects and the [[feathers]] and parts of golden and bald eagle are often compared to the [[Bible]] and [[crucifix]]. [[Eagle]] [[feather]]s are often used in traditional [[indigenous]] ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery.

Federal [[eagle feather law]] (Title 50 Part 22 Code of Federal Regulations), stipulates that only individuals of certifiable [[Native American]] ancestry enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain bald or golden eagle feathers for [[religious]] or [[spiritual]] use. [[Native Americans]] and non-Native Americans frequently contest the value and validity of the [[eagle feather law]], charging that the law imposes racial preferences and infringes on [[tribal sovereignty]]. The law does not allow [[Native Americans]] to give golden or bald eagle feathers to non-Native Americans, a custom commonly practiced today as it was centuries ago.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Hunting with Golden Eagles .jpg|The hunting Burgut - Golden Eagle - of Eastern Turkestan (1870s)
Image:Golden Eagle (small illustration).jpg|Illustration of Golden Eagle, by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, 1897
Image:Goldie.JPG
Image:Audubon GoldenEagle.jpg|Audubon's Golden Eagle
</gallery>

{{commons|Aquila chrysaetos}}

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49452|title=Aquila chrysaetos|downloaded=12 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

* Associated Press, ''Native American gets OK to use eagle feathers in religious practices'' (2002)[http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=16684]

* Associated Press, ''Residents fight to use eagle feathers'' (2004)[http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=4949&sec=73&cont=6]

* Boradiansky, Tina S. ''Conflicting Values: The Religious Killing of Federally Protected Wildlife'' (1990)[http://www.animallaw.info/articles/arus30nrj709.htm]

* DeMeo, Antonia M. ''Access to Eagles and Eagle Parts: Environmental Protection v. Native American Free Exercise of Religion'' (1995)[http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ar22hstclq771.htm]

* Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR), ''Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries PART 22—EAGLE PERMITS''[http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title50/50cfr22_main_02.tpl]

==External links==
*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/birds/Aquila_chrysaetos/ images and movies of the golden eagle ''(Aquila chrysaetos)'']
*[http://www.panoraama.com/live/maakotka/ Live Eagle camera]
*[http://www.mongoliaphoto.com/ Photo Hunting with Golden Eagles]
*[http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/goldeneagle/index.asp RSPB A to Z of UK Birds]
*[http://www.aquilalp.net AQUILALP.NET - Monitoring Golden Eagles in the Eastern Alps]
* [http://www.geocities.com/eaglefeatherlaw Religious Freedom with Raptors]

[[Category:Fauna of the Alps]]
[[Category:Eagles]]
[[Category:Fauna of the Scottish Highlands]]

[[bg:Скален орел]]
[[cs:Orel skalní]]
[[da:Kongeørn]]
[[de:Steinadler]]
[[et:Kaljukotkas]]
[[es:Águila real]]
[[eo:Reĝa aglo]]
[[fr:Aigle royal]]
[[fy:Keningsearn]]
[[gl:Aguia real]]
[[lt:Kilnusis erelis]]
[[nl:Steenarend]]
[[ja:イヌワシ]]
[[nn:Kongeørn]]
[[pl:Orzeł przedni]]
[[pt:Águia real]]
[[ru:Беркут]]
[[sl:Planinski orel]]
[[ta:பொன்னாங் கழுகு]]
[[fi:Maakotka]]
[[sv:Kungsörn]]
[[tr:Kaya kartalı]]

Field Guide/Birds/Aquila chrysaetos

2006-07-10T21:32:07Z

65.41.215.150: /* External links */

{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Golden Eagle
| status = LC
| image = GoldenEagle1.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Eagle|Aquila]]''
| species = '''''A. chrysaetos'''''
| binomial = ''Aquila chrysaetos''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1758]]
}}

The '''Golden Eagle''' (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is one of the best known [[bird of prey|birds of prey]] in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all [[eagle]]s, it belongs to the family [[Accipitridae]].

There are five [[subspecies]] of the Golden Eagle:

* '''Eurasian Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. chrysaetos'')
* '''American Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. canadensis'')
* '''Spanish Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. homeryi'')
* '''Japanese Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. japonica'')
* '''Russian Berkut''' (''A. c. daphanea'')

Golden Eagles are renowned for their striking appearance and combining power with agility in flight.

== Distribution ==

At one time, the Golden Eagle lived in temperate [[Europe]], North [[Asia]], [[North America]], North [[Africa]] and [[Japan]]. In most areas this bird is now a mountain-dweller, but in former centuries it also bred in the plains and the forests. In recent years it has started to breed in lowland areas again (Sweden, Denmark).
[[Image:GoldenEagle3.jpg|thumb|right|Golden Eagle swooping down to land]]
There was a great decline in Central Europe, and the Golden Eagle is now restricted to the higher central Appennine regions of Italy[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abruzzo_National_Park&redirect=no source], and the [[Alps]]. In [[Britain]], there are about 420 pairs left in the [[Scottish highlands]], and between [[1969]] and [[2004]] they bred in the English [[Lake District]]. In North America the situation is not as dramatic, but there has still been a noticeable decline.

In Central Asia, Golden Eagles sometimes are trained for [[falconry]], and in [[Kazakhstan]] there are still hunters using these eagles in order to catch deer and antelopes.

Efforts are being made to re-introduce the species in [[Ireland]], where they had been extinct since the early 20th Century. Thirty-five birds have been released into the wild since 2001.

== Reproduction ==
[[Image:GoldenEagle2.jpg|thumb|right|Golden Eagle in flight]]

A pair of Golden Eagles remains together for life. They build several [[eyrie]]s within their territory and use them alternately for several years. The nest consists of heavy tree branches, upholstered with grass.

Old eyries may be 2 metres in diameter and 1 metre in height, as the eagles enlarge their nests every year. If the eyrie is situated on a tree, supporting tree branches may break because of the weight of the nest.

The female lays two eggs between January and May (depending on the area). After 45 days the young hatch. They are entirely white and are fed for fifty days before they are able to make their first flight attempts and eat on their own. In most cases only the older chick, which takes most of the food, survives, while the younger one dies before leaving the eyrie.

== Physical Characteristics ==

Adult Golden Eagles have an average length of 75-85 cm (37-40"), a wingspan of 175-200 cm (70-80"), and a weight of 3 to 5 kg. As in all birds of prey, the females are generally slightly larger than the males.

== Hunting ==
Golden Eagles often have a division of labour while hunting: one partner drives the prey to its waiting partner. Their prey includes [[marmot]]s, [[hare]]s and [[mouse|mice]], and sometimes [[bird]]s, [[marten]]s, [[fox]]es and young [[deer]]. Large [[mammal]]s like [[chamois]] or adult deer can only be taken if they are wounded or sick. In the US, Golden Eagles often take lambs as prey, providing a significant source of mortality and earning the enmity of sheep ranchers.

== Golden Eagles as Religious Objects ==

The golden [[eagle]] is a sacred bird in some cultures and the [[feathers]] of the golden [[eagle]], like the [[bald eagle]], are central to many [[religious]] and [[spiritual]] customs, most notably amongst [[Native Americans]]. [[Native Americans]] revere [[eagle]]s as [[sacred]] religious objects and the [[feathers]] and parts of golden and bald eagle are often compared to the [[Bible]] and [[crucifix]]. [[Eagle]] [[feather]]s are often used in traditional [[indigenous]] ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery.

Federal [[eagle feather law]] (Title 50 Part 22 Code of Federal Regulations), stipulates that only individuals of certifiable [[Native American]] ancestry enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain bald or golden eagle feathers for [[religious]] or [[spiritual]] use. [[Native Americans]] and non-Native Americans frequently contest the value and validity of the [[eagle feather law]], charging that the law imposes racial preferences and infringes on [[tribal sovereignty]]. The law does not allow [[Native Americans]] to give golden or bald eagle feathers to non-Native Americans, a custom commonly practiced today as it was centuries ago.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Hunting with Golden Eagles .jpg|The hunting Burgut - Golden Eagle - of Eastern Turkestan (1870s)
Image:Golden Eagle (small illustration).jpg|Illustration of Golden Eagle, by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, 1897
Image:Goldie.JPG
Image:Audubon GoldenEagle.jpg|Audubon's Golden Eagle
</gallery>

{{commons|Aquila chrysaetos}}

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49452|title=Aquila chrysaetos|downloaded=12 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

==External links==
*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/birds/Aquila_chrysaetos/ images and movies of the golden eagle ''(Aquila chrysaetos)'']
*[http://www.panoraama.com/live/maakotka/ Live Eagle camera]
*[http://www.mongoliaphoto.com/ Photo Hunting with Golden Eagles]
*[http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/goldeneagle/index.asp RSPB A to Z of UK Birds]
*[http://www.aquilalp.net AQUILALP.NET - Monitoring Golden Eagles in the Eastern Alps]
* [http://www.geocities.com/eaglefeatherlaw Religious Freedom with Raptors]

[[Category:Fauna of the Alps]]
[[Category:Eagles]]
[[Category:Fauna of the Scottish Highlands]]

[[bg:Скален орел]]
[[cs:Orel skalní]]
[[da:Kongeørn]]
[[de:Steinadler]]
[[et:Kaljukotkas]]
[[es:Águila real]]
[[eo:Reĝa aglo]]
[[fr:Aigle royal]]
[[fy:Keningsearn]]
[[gl:Aguia real]]
[[lt:Kilnusis erelis]]
[[nl:Steenarend]]
[[ja:イヌワシ]]
[[nn:Kongeørn]]
[[pl:Orzeł przedni]]
[[pt:Águia real]]
[[ru:Беркут]]
[[sl:Planinski orel]]
[[ta:பொன்னாங் கழுகு]]
[[fi:Maakotka]]
[[sv:Kungsörn]]
[[tr:Kaya kartalı]]

Field Guide/Birds/Aquila chrysaetos

2006-07-10T21:31:29Z

65.41.215.150:

{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Golden Eagle
| status = LC
| image = GoldenEagle1.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Eagle|Aquila]]''
| species = '''''A. chrysaetos'''''
| binomial = ''Aquila chrysaetos''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1758]]
}}

The '''Golden Eagle''' (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is one of the best known [[bird of prey|birds of prey]] in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all [[eagle]]s, it belongs to the family [[Accipitridae]].

There are five [[subspecies]] of the Golden Eagle:

* '''Eurasian Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. chrysaetos'')
* '''American Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. canadensis'')
* '''Spanish Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. homeryi'')
* '''Japanese Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. japonica'')
* '''Russian Berkut''' (''A. c. daphanea'')

Golden Eagles are renowned for their striking appearance and combining power with agility in flight.

== Distribution ==

At one time, the Golden Eagle lived in temperate [[Europe]], North [[Asia]], [[North America]], North [[Africa]] and [[Japan]]. In most areas this bird is now a mountain-dweller, but in former centuries it also bred in the plains and the forests. In recent years it has started to breed in lowland areas again (Sweden, Denmark).
[[Image:GoldenEagle3.jpg|thumb|right|Golden Eagle swooping down to land]]
There was a great decline in Central Europe, and the Golden Eagle is now restricted to the higher central Appennine regions of Italy[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abruzzo_National_Park&redirect=no source], and the [[Alps]]. In [[Britain]], there are about 420 pairs left in the [[Scottish highlands]], and between [[1969]] and [[2004]] they bred in the English [[Lake District]]. In North America the situation is not as dramatic, but there has still been a noticeable decline.

In Central Asia, Golden Eagles sometimes are trained for [[falconry]], and in [[Kazakhstan]] there are still hunters using these eagles in order to catch deer and antelopes.

Efforts are being made to re-introduce the species in [[Ireland]], where they had been extinct since the early 20th Century. Thirty-five birds have been released into the wild since 2001.

== Reproduction ==
[[Image:GoldenEagle2.jpg|thumb|right|Golden Eagle in flight]]

A pair of Golden Eagles remains together for life. They build several [[eyrie]]s within their territory and use them alternately for several years. The nest consists of heavy tree branches, upholstered with grass.

Old eyries may be 2 metres in diameter and 1 metre in height, as the eagles enlarge their nests every year. If the eyrie is situated on a tree, supporting tree branches may break because of the weight of the nest.

The female lays two eggs between January and May (depending on the area). After 45 days the young hatch. They are entirely white and are fed for fifty days before they are able to make their first flight attempts and eat on their own. In most cases only the older chick, which takes most of the food, survives, while the younger one dies before leaving the eyrie.

== Physical Characteristics ==

Adult Golden Eagles have an average length of 75-85 cm (37-40"), a wingspan of 175-200 cm (70-80"), and a weight of 3 to 5 kg. As in all birds of prey, the females are generally slightly larger than the males.

== Hunting ==
Golden Eagles often have a division of labour while hunting: one partner drives the prey to its waiting partner. Their prey includes [[marmot]]s, [[hare]]s and [[mouse|mice]], and sometimes [[bird]]s, [[marten]]s, [[fox]]es and young [[deer]]. Large [[mammal]]s like [[chamois]] or adult deer can only be taken if they are wounded or sick. In the US, Golden Eagles often take lambs as prey, providing a significant source of mortality and earning the enmity of sheep ranchers.

== Golden Eagles as Religious Objects ==

The golden [[eagle]] is a sacred bird in some cultures and the [[feathers]] of the golden [[eagle]], like the [[bald eagle]], are central to many [[religious]] and [[spiritual]] customs, most notably amongst [[Native Americans]]. [[Native Americans]] revere [[eagle]]s as [[sacred]] religious objects and the [[feathers]] and parts of golden and bald eagle are often compared to the [[Bible]] and [[crucifix]]. [[Eagle]] [[feather]]s are often used in traditional [[indigenous]] ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery.

Federal [[eagle feather law]] (Title 50 Part 22 Code of Federal Regulations), stipulates that only individuals of certifiable [[Native American]] ancestry enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain bald or golden eagle feathers for [[religious]] or [[spiritual]] use. [[Native Americans]] and non-Native Americans frequently contest the value and validity of the [[eagle feather law]], charging that the law imposes racial preferences and infringes on [[tribal sovereignty]]. The law does not allow [[Native Americans]] to give golden or bald eagle feathers to non-Native Americans, a custom commonly practiced today as it was centuries ago.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Hunting with Golden Eagles .jpg|The hunting Burgut - Golden Eagle - of Eastern Turkestan (1870s)
Image:Golden Eagle (small illustration).jpg|Illustration of Golden Eagle, by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, 1897
Image:Goldie.JPG
Image:Audubon GoldenEagle.jpg|Audubon's Golden Eagle
</gallery>

{{commons|Aquila chrysaetos}}

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49452|title=Aquila chrysaetos|downloaded=12 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

==External links==
*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/birds/Aquila_chrysaetos/ images and movies of the golden eagle ''(Aquila chrysaetos)'']
*[http://www.panoraama.com/live/maakotka/ Live Eagle camera]
*[http://www.mongoliaphoto.com/ Photo Hunting with Golden Eagles]
*[http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/goldeneagle/index.asp RSPB A to Z of UK Birds]
*[http://www.aquilalp.net AQUILALP.NET - Monitoring Golden Eagles in the Eastern Alps]

[[Category:Fauna of the Alps]]
[[Category:Eagles]]
[[Category:Fauna of the Scottish Highlands]]

[[bg:Скален орел]]
[[cs:Orel skalní]]
[[da:Kongeørn]]
[[de:Steinadler]]
[[et:Kaljukotkas]]
[[es:Águila real]]
[[eo:Reĝa aglo]]
[[fr:Aigle royal]]
[[fy:Keningsearn]]
[[gl:Aguia real]]
[[lt:Kilnusis erelis]]
[[nl:Steenarend]]
[[ja:イヌワシ]]
[[nn:Kongeørn]]
[[pl:Orzeł przedni]]
[[pt:Águia real]]
[[ru:Беркут]]
[[sl:Planinski orel]]
[[ta:பொன்னாங் கழுகு]]
[[fi:Maakotka]]
[[sv:Kungsörn]]
[[tr:Kaya kartalı]]

Field Guide/Birds/Haliaeetus leucocephalus

2006-07-10T21:22:36Z

65.41.215.150: /* References */

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Bald Eagle
| status = LC
| image = Haliaeetus leucocephalus.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Haliaeetus]]''
| species = '''''H. leucocephalus'''''
| binomial = ''Haliaeetus leucocephalus''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1766]])
}}

The '''Bald Eagle''' (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus''), also known as the '''American Eagle''', is a [[bird of prey]] found in [[North America]], most recognizable as the [[national bird]] of the [[United States]].

The species was on the brink of [[extinction]] in the USA late in the [[20th century]] but now has a stable population and is in the process of being removed from the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. federal government]]'s list of [[endangered species]].

The bird gets both its common and scientific names from the distinctive appearance of the adult's head. ''Bald'' in the [[English language|English]] name refers to the white head feathers, and the scientific name is derived from ''Haliaeetus'', the [[New Latin]] for "sea eagle," (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''haliaetos'') and ''leucocephalus'', the Greek for "white head," from ''leukos'' ("white") and ''kephale'' ("head").

==Range, habitat, and restoration==
The Bald Eagle's natural range includes most of North America, including most of [[Canada]], all of the continental United States, and northern [[Mexico]]. The bird itself is able to live in most of North America's varied habitat from the [[bayou]]s of [[Louisiana]] to the [[Sonoran Desert|Sonoran desert]] to the eastern deciduous forests of [[Quebec]] and [[New England]]. It can be a [[bird migration|migratory]] bird but it also is not unheard of for a nesting pair to overwinter in a particular area.

Once it was very common to see a Bald Eagle soaring over the landscape, but unfortunately this was one of the species hit hard by widespread use of [[DDT]], in the mid-twentieth century. Unlike some others, the pesticide itself wasn't poisonous to the bird but rather either made it sterile or inhibited its ability to lay healthy eggs: the eagle would ingest the chemical through its food and then lay eggs that were too brittle to withstand the weight of a brooding adult. By the 1960's there were fewer than 500 nesting pairs in the contiguous 48 states of the USA. Currently it is still slowly but steadily recovering its numbers; it can be found in, growing concentrations throughout the U.S. and [[Canada]], particularly near large [[body of water|bodies of water]]. The US state with the largest resident population is [[Alaska]]; out of the estimated 100,000 Bald Eagles on [[Earth]], half live there.

The only Bald Eagle hatched outside North America was on [[May 3]] [[2006]] in a zoo in the German city of [[Magdeburg]].

==Description==
[[Image:bald.eagle.longshot.arp.500pix.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Bald Eagle at Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, North Devon, England]]
An immature bird has speckled brown [[feather]]s all over, the distinctive head and body [[plumage]] arriving 2–3 years later, before sexual maturity; it is distinguishable from a [[Golden Eagle]] in that the latter has feathers which extend down the leg. Their life span is approximately 50 years. Adult females have a wingspan of approximately 2.1 meters (7 feet); adult males have a wingspan of 2 meters (6 feet, 6 inches). Adult females weigh approximately 5.8 kg (12.8 lb), males weigh 4.1 kg (9 lb).

Bald Eagles are protected by two federal laws in the [[United States]]: the Bald Eagle Protection Act (1940), which protects Bald and [[Golden Eagle]]s, and the [[Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918|Migratory Bird Treaty Act]] (1918).

==Behavior==
Bald Eagles build huge nest platforms out of branches, usually in large trees. Pairs, who mate for life, add material to the nest each breeding season. After several years, the nest may weigh upwards of 450 kg (one thousand pounds).

Bald Eagles that are old enough to breed often return to the area where they were raised. They are more social than many other raptor species: an adult looking for a nesting site is more likely to select a location that contains other breeding Bald Eagles.

Bald Eagles are powerful fliers, and also soar on thermal convection currents. They are long-lived, with reports of birds in captivity living to be 60 years old.

Bald Eagles normally squeak and have a shrill cry, punctuated by grunts. They do not make the "eagle scream" as often shown on television. What many recognize as the call of this species is actually the call of a [[Red-tailed hawk]] dubbed into the film.

When breeding in the [[tundra]] biome, where there are no trees, eagles will nest directly on the ground.

==Reproduction==
Bald Eagles are sexually mature at 4 or 5 years of age. Mated pairs produce between one and three [[egg (biology)|egg]]s per year, but it is rare for all three chicks to successfully fledge. Both the male and female of the pair take turns sitting on the eggs. The other parent will hunt for food or forage for nest material in the intervening time.

Third chicks are sometimes removed from nests to use in [[reintroduction]] programs in areas where the species has died out.

In such programs, the [[bird]]s are raised in boxes, on platforms in the tree canopy, and fed in such a way that they cannot see the person supplying their food, until they are old enough to fly and find their own.

==Diet==
The Bald Eagle's diet is varied, including [[carrion]], [[fish]], smaller [[bird]]s, [[rodent]]s, and sometimes food scavenged or stolen from campsites and picnics.

To hunt fish, the eagle swoops down over the water and snatches the fish out of the water with its [[talons]]. They eat by holding the fish in one claw and tearing the flesh with the other. Eagles have structures on their toes called [[spiricules]] that allow them to grasp fish. [[Osprey]] also have this adaptation.

Sometimes, if the fish is too heavy to lift, the eagle will be dragged into the water. It may swim to safety, but some eagles drown or succumb to [[hypothermia]].

==Eagles and humans==
As the symbol of the United States, the Bald Eagle is sought after as a captive bird in that country. Permits are required to keep this species. As a rule, it is a poor bird for public shows, being timid, prone to becoming highly stressed, and unpredictable in nature.

==Rare vagrant==
This species has occurred as a [[Vagrancy (biology)|vagrant]] once in [[Ireland]]. The poor exhausted specimen was discovered by a [[national park]]s worker in a northern heath. Presumably, a storm blew it out to sea, and the bird struggled across the [[Atlantic Ocean]].

==National bird of the U.S.==
The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the [[United States]] of America. It is easily the most recognizable symbol of the U.S. and appears on most of that country's official seals, including the [[Seal of the President of the United States]].

Its national significance dates back to [[June 20]], [[1782]], when the [[Continental Congress]] officially adopted the current design for the [[Great Seal of the United States]] including a Bald Eagle grasping arrows and an olive branch with its [[talons]]. Some states had earlier adopted the bird as a symbol; for example [[New York State]] did so in 1778.

In 1784, after the end of the [[Revolutionary War]], [[Benjamin Franklin]] wrote a famous letter to his daughter from [[Paris]] criticizing the choice and suggesting the [[Wild Turkey]] as an alternative:

:''For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

:''With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .

:''I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.''

Despite Franklin's objections the Bald Eagle remained the emblem of the United States. It appears on many official seals in addition to the back of the [[Quarter (U.S. coin)|quarter]] dollar coin, its head always oriented towards the olive branch.

== Bald Eagles as Religious Objects ==

The bald [[eagle]] is a sacred bird in some cultures and the [[feathers]] of the bald [[eagle]], like the [[golden eagle]], are central to many [[religious]] and [[spiritual]] customs, most notably amongst [[Native Americans]]. [[Native Americans]] revere [[eagle]]s as [[sacred]] religious objects and the [[feathers]] and parts of bald and golden eagle are often compared to the [[Bible]] and [[crucifix]]. [[Eagle]] [[feather]]s are often used in traditional ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery.

Despite modern and historic Native American practices of giving [[eagle]] feathers to non-Native Americans and [[Native American]] members of other tribes who have been deemed worthy, current [[eagle feather law]] stipulates that only individuals of certifiable [[Native American]] ancestry enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain bald or golden eagle feathers for [[religious]] or [[spiritual]] use.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:resting
Image:with egg

Image:Bald.:Bald_Eagle_tgo.jpg|Roosting
</gallery>

==References==

* Associated Press, ''Native American gets OK to use eagle feathers in religious practices'' (2002)[http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=16684]

* Associated Press, ''Residents fight to use eagle feathers'' (2004) [http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=4949&sec=73&cont=6]

* Boradiansky, Tina S. ''Conflicting Values: The Religious Killing of Federally Protected Wildlife'' (1990)[http://www.animallaw.info/articles/arus30nrj709.htm]

* DeMeo, Antonia M. ''Access to Eagles and Eagle Parts: Environmental Protection v. Native American Free Exercise of Religion'' (1995)[http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ar22hstclq771.htm]

* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49336|title=Haliaeetus leucocephalus|downloaded=09 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

* Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR), Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries PART 22—EAGLE PERMITS

==External links==
{{commons|Haliaeetus leucocephalus}}
*[http://images.fws.gov/default.cfm?fuseaction=records.display&CFID=2060719&CFTOKEN=64720564&id=5C7D1A7F%2DF41E%2D4C0A%2D87A4F0A6E628BD0E 11.9" x 8" 1.24 MB Bald Eagle JPEG] provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
*[http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/turkey.html Ben Franklin - the Eagle and the Turkey]
*[http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/baldeagle/nationalbird.cfm?photo=1 Eagle vs. Turkey]
*[http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/default.asp Live web cam of a Bald Eagle nest in British Columbia]
* [http://www.geocities.com/eaglefeatherlaw Religious Freedom with Raptors]
*[http://www.nu.com/eagles/default.asp Live web cam of a Bald Eagle nest in Massachusetts]
*[http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/ Bald Eagle Information]


[[Category:Eagles]]
[[Category:Avifauna of Washington]]



[[be:Белагаловы арол]]
[[cs:Orel bělohlavý]]
[[da:Hvidhovedet havørn]]
[[de:Weißkopfseeadler]]
[[eo:Blankkapa maraglo]]
[[fr:Pygargue à tête blanche]]
[[it:Haliaeetus leucocephalus]]
[[nl:Amerikaanse zeearend]]
[[ja:ハクトウワシ]]
[[pl:Bielik amerykański]]
[[pt:Águia de cabeça branca]]
[[fi:Valkopäämerikotka]]
[[sv:Vithövdad havsörn]]
[[ta:வெண்தலைக் கழுகு]]

Field Guide/Birds/Haliaeetus leucocephalus

2006-07-10T21:21:58Z

65.41.215.150: /* References */

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Bald Eagle
| status = LC
| image = Haliaeetus leucocephalus.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Haliaeetus]]''
| species = '''''H. leucocephalus'''''
| binomial = ''Haliaeetus leucocephalus''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1766]])
}}

The '''Bald Eagle''' (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus''), also known as the '''American Eagle''', is a [[bird of prey]] found in [[North America]], most recognizable as the [[national bird]] of the [[United States]].

The species was on the brink of [[extinction]] in the USA late in the [[20th century]] but now has a stable population and is in the process of being removed from the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. federal government]]'s list of [[endangered species]].

The bird gets both its common and scientific names from the distinctive appearance of the adult's head. ''Bald'' in the [[English language|English]] name refers to the white head feathers, and the scientific name is derived from ''Haliaeetus'', the [[New Latin]] for "sea eagle," (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''haliaetos'') and ''leucocephalus'', the Greek for "white head," from ''leukos'' ("white") and ''kephale'' ("head").

==Range, habitat, and restoration==
The Bald Eagle's natural range includes most of North America, including most of [[Canada]], all of the continental United States, and northern [[Mexico]]. The bird itself is able to live in most of North America's varied habitat from the [[bayou]]s of [[Louisiana]] to the [[Sonoran Desert|Sonoran desert]] to the eastern deciduous forests of [[Quebec]] and [[New England]]. It can be a [[bird migration|migratory]] bird but it also is not unheard of for a nesting pair to overwinter in a particular area.

Once it was very common to see a Bald Eagle soaring over the landscape, but unfortunately this was one of the species hit hard by widespread use of [[DDT]], in the mid-twentieth century. Unlike some others, the pesticide itself wasn't poisonous to the bird but rather either made it sterile or inhibited its ability to lay healthy eggs: the eagle would ingest the chemical through its food and then lay eggs that were too brittle to withstand the weight of a brooding adult. By the 1960's there were fewer than 500 nesting pairs in the contiguous 48 states of the USA. Currently it is still slowly but steadily recovering its numbers; it can be found in, growing concentrations throughout the U.S. and [[Canada]], particularly near large [[body of water|bodies of water]]. The US state with the largest resident population is [[Alaska]]; out of the estimated 100,000 Bald Eagles on [[Earth]], half live there.

The only Bald Eagle hatched outside North America was on [[May 3]] [[2006]] in a zoo in the German city of [[Magdeburg]].

==Description==
[[Image:bald.eagle.longshot.arp.500pix.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Bald Eagle at Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, North Devon, England]]
An immature bird has speckled brown [[feather]]s all over, the distinctive head and body [[plumage]] arriving 2–3 years later, before sexual maturity; it is distinguishable from a [[Golden Eagle]] in that the latter has feathers which extend down the leg. Their life span is approximately 50 years. Adult females have a wingspan of approximately 2.1 meters (7 feet); adult males have a wingspan of 2 meters (6 feet, 6 inches). Adult females weigh approximately 5.8 kg (12.8 lb), males weigh 4.1 kg (9 lb).

Bald Eagles are protected by two federal laws in the [[United States]]: the Bald Eagle Protection Act (1940), which protects Bald and [[Golden Eagle]]s, and the [[Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918|Migratory Bird Treaty Act]] (1918).

==Behavior==
Bald Eagles build huge nest platforms out of branches, usually in large trees. Pairs, who mate for life, add material to the nest each breeding season. After several years, the nest may weigh upwards of 450 kg (one thousand pounds).

Bald Eagles that are old enough to breed often return to the area where they were raised. They are more social than many other raptor species: an adult looking for a nesting site is more likely to select a location that contains other breeding Bald Eagles.

Bald Eagles are powerful fliers, and also soar on thermal convection currents. They are long-lived, with reports of birds in captivity living to be 60 years old.

Bald Eagles normally squeak and have a shrill cry, punctuated by grunts. They do not make the "eagle scream" as often shown on television. What many recognize as the call of this species is actually the call of a [[Red-tailed hawk]] dubbed into the film.

When breeding in the [[tundra]] biome, where there are no trees, eagles will nest directly on the ground.

==Reproduction==
Bald Eagles are sexually mature at 4 or 5 years of age. Mated pairs produce between one and three [[egg (biology)|egg]]s per year, but it is rare for all three chicks to successfully fledge. Both the male and female of the pair take turns sitting on the eggs. The other parent will hunt for food or forage for nest material in the intervening time.

Third chicks are sometimes removed from nests to use in [[reintroduction]] programs in areas where the species has died out.

In such programs, the [[bird]]s are raised in boxes, on platforms in the tree canopy, and fed in such a way that they cannot see the person supplying their food, until they are old enough to fly and find their own.

==Diet==
The Bald Eagle's diet is varied, including [[carrion]], [[fish]], smaller [[bird]]s, [[rodent]]s, and sometimes food scavenged or stolen from campsites and picnics.

To hunt fish, the eagle swoops down over the water and snatches the fish out of the water with its [[talons]]. They eat by holding the fish in one claw and tearing the flesh with the other. Eagles have structures on their toes called [[spiricules]] that allow them to grasp fish. [[Osprey]] also have this adaptation.

Sometimes, if the fish is too heavy to lift, the eagle will be dragged into the water. It may swim to safety, but some eagles drown or succumb to [[hypothermia]].

==Eagles and humans==
As the symbol of the United States, the Bald Eagle is sought after as a captive bird in that country. Permits are required to keep this species. As a rule, it is a poor bird for public shows, being timid, prone to becoming highly stressed, and unpredictable in nature.

==Rare vagrant==
This species has occurred as a [[Vagrancy (biology)|vagrant]] once in [[Ireland]]. The poor exhausted specimen was discovered by a [[national park]]s worker in a northern heath. Presumably, a storm blew it out to sea, and the bird struggled across the [[Atlantic Ocean]].

==National bird of the U.S.==
The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the [[United States]] of America. It is easily the most recognizable symbol of the U.S. and appears on most of that country's official seals, including the [[Seal of the President of the United States]].

Its national significance dates back to [[June 20]], [[1782]], when the [[Continental Congress]] officially adopted the current design for the [[Great Seal of the United States]] including a Bald Eagle grasping arrows and an olive branch with its [[talons]]. Some states had earlier adopted the bird as a symbol; for example [[New York State]] did so in 1778.

In 1784, after the end of the [[Revolutionary War]], [[Benjamin Franklin]] wrote a famous letter to his daughter from [[Paris]] criticizing the choice and suggesting the [[Wild Turkey]] as an alternative:

:''For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

:''With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .

:''I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.''

Despite Franklin's objections the Bald Eagle remained the emblem of the United States. It appears on many official seals in addition to the back of the [[Quarter (U.S. coin)|quarter]] dollar coin, its head always oriented towards the olive branch.

== Bald Eagles as Religious Objects ==

The bald [[eagle]] is a sacred bird in some cultures and the [[feathers]] of the bald [[eagle]], like the [[golden eagle]], are central to many [[religious]] and [[spiritual]] customs, most notably amongst [[Native Americans]]. [[Native Americans]] revere [[eagle]]s as [[sacred]] religious objects and the [[feathers]] and parts of bald and golden eagle are often compared to the [[Bible]] and [[crucifix]]. [[Eagle]] [[feather]]s are often used in traditional ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery.

Despite modern and historic Native American practices of giving [[eagle]] feathers to non-Native Americans and [[Native American]] members of other tribes who have been deemed worthy, current [[eagle feather law]] stipulates that only individuals of certifiable [[Native American]] ancestry enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain bald or golden eagle feathers for [[religious]] or [[spiritual]] use.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:resting
Image:with egg

Image:Bald.:Bald_Eagle_tgo.jpg|Roosting
</gallery>

==References==

* Associated Press, ''Native American gets OK to use eagle feathers in religious practices'' (2002)
[http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=16684]

* Associated Press, ''Residents fight to use eagle feathers'' (2004)
[http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=4949&sec=73&cont=6]

* Boradiansky, Tina S. ''Conflicting Values: The Religious Killing of Federally Protected Wildlife'' (1990)
[http://www.animallaw.info/articles/arus30nrj709.htm]

* DeMeo, Antonia M. ''Access to Eagles and Eagle Parts: Environmental Protection v. Native American Free Exercise of Religion'' (1995)
[http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ar22hstclq771.htm]

* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49336|title=Haliaeetus leucocephalus|downloaded=09 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

* Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR), Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries PART 22—EAGLE PERMITS

==External links==
{{commons|Haliaeetus leucocephalus}}
*[http://images.fws.gov/default.cfm?fuseaction=records.display&CFID=2060719&CFTOKEN=64720564&id=5C7D1A7F%2DF41E%2D4C0A%2D87A4F0A6E628BD0E 11.9" x 8" 1.24 MB Bald Eagle JPEG] provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
*[http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/turkey.html Ben Franklin - the Eagle and the Turkey]
*[http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/baldeagle/nationalbird.cfm?photo=1 Eagle vs. Turkey]
*[http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/default.asp Live web cam of a Bald Eagle nest in British Columbia]
* [http://www.geocities.com/eaglefeatherlaw Religious Freedom with Raptors]
*[http://www.nu.com/eagles/default.asp Live web cam of a Bald Eagle nest in Massachusetts]
*[http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/ Bald Eagle Information]


[[Category:Eagles]]
[[Category:Avifauna of Washington]]



[[be:Белагаловы арол]]
[[cs:Orel bělohlavý]]
[[da:Hvidhovedet havørn]]
[[de:Weißkopfseeadler]]
[[eo:Blankkapa maraglo]]
[[fr:Pygargue à tête blanche]]
[[it:Haliaeetus leucocephalus]]
[[nl:Amerikaanse zeearend]]
[[ja:ハクトウワシ]]
[[pl:Bielik amerykański]]
[[pt:Águia de cabeça branca]]
[[fi:Valkopäämerikotka]]
[[sv:Vithövdad havsörn]]
[[ta:வெண்தலைக் கழுகு]]

Field Guide/Birds/Haliaeetus leucocephalus

2006-07-10T21:19:27Z

65.41.215.150: /* External links */

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Bald Eagle
| status = LC
| image = Haliaeetus leucocephalus.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Haliaeetus]]''
| species = '''''H. leucocephalus'''''
| binomial = ''Haliaeetus leucocephalus''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1766]])
}}

The '''Bald Eagle''' (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus''), also known as the '''American Eagle''', is a [[bird of prey]] found in [[North America]], most recognizable as the [[national bird]] of the [[United States]].

The species was on the brink of [[extinction]] in the USA late in the [[20th century]] but now has a stable population and is in the process of being removed from the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. federal government]]'s list of [[endangered species]].

The bird gets both its common and scientific names from the distinctive appearance of the adult's head. ''Bald'' in the [[English language|English]] name refers to the white head feathers, and the scientific name is derived from ''Haliaeetus'', the [[New Latin]] for "sea eagle," (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''haliaetos'') and ''leucocephalus'', the Greek for "white head," from ''leukos'' ("white") and ''kephale'' ("head").

==Range, habitat, and restoration==
The Bald Eagle's natural range includes most of North America, including most of [[Canada]], all of the continental United States, and northern [[Mexico]]. The bird itself is able to live in most of North America's varied habitat from the [[bayou]]s of [[Louisiana]] to the [[Sonoran Desert|Sonoran desert]] to the eastern deciduous forests of [[Quebec]] and [[New England]]. It can be a [[bird migration|migratory]] bird but it also is not unheard of for a nesting pair to overwinter in a particular area.

Once it was very common to see a Bald Eagle soaring over the landscape, but unfortunately this was one of the species hit hard by widespread use of [[DDT]], in the mid-twentieth century. Unlike some others, the pesticide itself wasn't poisonous to the bird but rather either made it sterile or inhibited its ability to lay healthy eggs: the eagle would ingest the chemical through its food and then lay eggs that were too brittle to withstand the weight of a brooding adult. By the 1960's there were fewer than 500 nesting pairs in the contiguous 48 states of the USA. Currently it is still slowly but steadily recovering its numbers; it can be found in, growing concentrations throughout the U.S. and [[Canada]], particularly near large [[body of water|bodies of water]]. The US state with the largest resident population is [[Alaska]]; out of the estimated 100,000 Bald Eagles on [[Earth]], half live there.

The only Bald Eagle hatched outside North America was on [[May 3]] [[2006]] in a zoo in the German city of [[Magdeburg]].

==Description==
[[Image:bald.eagle.longshot.arp.500pix.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Bald Eagle at Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, North Devon, England]]
An immature bird has speckled brown [[feather]]s all over, the distinctive head and body [[plumage]] arriving 2–3 years later, before sexual maturity; it is distinguishable from a [[Golden Eagle]] in that the latter has feathers which extend down the leg. Their life span is approximately 50 years. Adult females have a wingspan of approximately 2.1 meters (7 feet); adult males have a wingspan of 2 meters (6 feet, 6 inches). Adult females weigh approximately 5.8 kg (12.8 lb), males weigh 4.1 kg (9 lb).

Bald Eagles are protected by two federal laws in the [[United States]]: the Bald Eagle Protection Act (1940), which protects Bald and [[Golden Eagle]]s, and the [[Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918|Migratory Bird Treaty Act]] (1918).

==Behavior==
Bald Eagles build huge nest platforms out of branches, usually in large trees. Pairs, who mate for life, add material to the nest each breeding season. After several years, the nest may weigh upwards of 450 kg (one thousand pounds).

Bald Eagles that are old enough to breed often return to the area where they were raised. They are more social than many other raptor species: an adult looking for a nesting site is more likely to select a location that contains other breeding Bald Eagles.

Bald Eagles are powerful fliers, and also soar on thermal convection currents. They are long-lived, with reports of birds in captivity living to be 60 years old.

Bald Eagles normally squeak and have a shrill cry, punctuated by grunts. They do not make the "eagle scream" as often shown on television. What many recognize as the call of this species is actually the call of a [[Red-tailed hawk]] dubbed into the film.

When breeding in the [[tundra]] biome, where there are no trees, eagles will nest directly on the ground.

==Reproduction==
Bald Eagles are sexually mature at 4 or 5 years of age. Mated pairs produce between one and three [[egg (biology)|egg]]s per year, but it is rare for all three chicks to successfully fledge. Both the male and female of the pair take turns sitting on the eggs. The other parent will hunt for food or forage for nest material in the intervening time.

Third chicks are sometimes removed from nests to use in [[reintroduction]] programs in areas where the species has died out.

In such programs, the [[bird]]s are raised in boxes, on platforms in the tree canopy, and fed in such a way that they cannot see the person supplying their food, until they are old enough to fly and find their own.

==Diet==
The Bald Eagle's diet is varied, including [[carrion]], [[fish]], smaller [[bird]]s, [[rodent]]s, and sometimes food scavenged or stolen from campsites and picnics.

To hunt fish, the eagle swoops down over the water and snatches the fish out of the water with its [[talons]]. They eat by holding the fish in one claw and tearing the flesh with the other. Eagles have structures on their toes called [[spiricules]] that allow them to grasp fish. [[Osprey]] also have this adaptation.

Sometimes, if the fish is too heavy to lift, the eagle will be dragged into the water. It may swim to safety, but some eagles drown or succumb to [[hypothermia]].

==Eagles and humans==
As the symbol of the United States, the Bald Eagle is sought after as a captive bird in that country. Permits are required to keep this species. As a rule, it is a poor bird for public shows, being timid, prone to becoming highly stressed, and unpredictable in nature.

==Rare vagrant==
This species has occurred as a [[Vagrancy (biology)|vagrant]] once in [[Ireland]]. The poor exhausted specimen was discovered by a [[national park]]s worker in a northern heath. Presumably, a storm blew it out to sea, and the bird struggled across the [[Atlantic Ocean]].

==National bird of the U.S.==
The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the [[United States]] of America. It is easily the most recognizable symbol of the U.S. and appears on most of that country's official seals, including the [[Seal of the President of the United States]].

Its national significance dates back to [[June 20]], [[1782]], when the [[Continental Congress]] officially adopted the current design for the [[Great Seal of the United States]] including a Bald Eagle grasping arrows and an olive branch with its [[talons]]. Some states had earlier adopted the bird as a symbol; for example [[New York State]] did so in 1778.

In 1784, after the end of the [[Revolutionary War]], [[Benjamin Franklin]] wrote a famous letter to his daughter from [[Paris]] criticizing the choice and suggesting the [[Wild Turkey]] as an alternative:

:''For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

:''With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .

:''I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.''

Despite Franklin's objections the Bald Eagle remained the emblem of the United States. It appears on many official seals in addition to the back of the [[Quarter (U.S. coin)|quarter]] dollar coin, its head always oriented towards the olive branch.

== Bald Eagles as Religious Objects ==

The bald [[eagle]] is a sacred bird in some cultures and the [[feathers]] of the bald [[eagle]], like the [[golden eagle]], are central to many [[religious]] and [[spiritual]] customs, most notably amongst [[Native Americans]]. [[Native Americans]] revere [[eagle]]s as [[sacred]] religious objects and the [[feathers]] and parts of bald and golden eagle are often compared to the [[Bible]] and [[crucifix]]. [[Eagle]] [[feather]]s are often used in traditional ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery.

Despite modern and historic Native American practices of giving [[eagle]] feathers to non-Native Americans and [[Native American]] members of other tribes who have been deemed worthy, current [[eagle feather law]] stipulates that only individuals of certifiable [[Native American]] ancestry enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain bald or golden eagle feathers for [[religious]] or [[spiritual]] use.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:resting
Image:with egg

Image:Bald.:Bald_Eagle_tgo.jpg|Roosting
</gallery>

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49336|title=Haliaeetus leucocephalus|downloaded=09 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

==External links==
{{commons|Haliaeetus leucocephalus}}
*[http://images.fws.gov/default.cfm?fuseaction=records.display&CFID=2060719&CFTOKEN=64720564&id=5C7D1A7F%2DF41E%2D4C0A%2D87A4F0A6E628BD0E 11.9" x 8" 1.24 MB Bald Eagle JPEG] provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
*[http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/turkey.html Ben Franklin - the Eagle and the Turkey]
*[http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/baldeagle/nationalbird.cfm?photo=1 Eagle vs. Turkey]
*[http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/default.asp Live web cam of a Bald Eagle nest in British Columbia]
* [http://www.geocities.com/eaglefeatherlaw Religious Freedom with Raptors]
*[http://www.nu.com/eagles/default.asp Live web cam of a Bald Eagle nest in Massachusetts]
*[http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/ Bald Eagle Information]


[[Category:Eagles]]
[[Category:Avifauna of Washington]]



[[be:Белагаловы арол]]
[[cs:Orel bělohlavý]]
[[da:Hvidhovedet havørn]]
[[de:Weißkopfseeadler]]
[[eo:Blankkapa maraglo]]
[[fr:Pygargue à tête blanche]]
[[it:Haliaeetus leucocephalus]]
[[nl:Amerikaanse zeearend]]
[[ja:ハクトウワシ]]
[[pl:Bielik amerykański]]
[[pt:Águia de cabeça branca]]
[[fi:Valkopäämerikotka]]
[[sv:Vithövdad havsörn]]
[[ta:வெண்தலைக் கழுகு]]

Field Guide/Birds/Haliaeetus leucocephalus

2006-07-10T21:17:20Z

65.41.215.150:

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Bald Eagle
| status = LC
| image = Haliaeetus leucocephalus.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
| familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| genus = ''[[Haliaeetus]]''
| species = '''''H. leucocephalus'''''
| binomial = ''Haliaeetus leucocephalus''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1766]])
}}

The '''Bald Eagle''' (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus''), also known as the '''American Eagle''', is a [[bird of prey]] found in [[North America]], most recognizable as the [[national bird]] of the [[United States]].

The species was on the brink of [[extinction]] in the USA late in the [[20th century]] but now has a stable population and is in the process of being removed from the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. federal government]]'s list of [[endangered species]].

The bird gets both its common and scientific names from the distinctive appearance of the adult's head. ''Bald'' in the [[English language|English]] name refers to the white head feathers, and the scientific name is derived from ''Haliaeetus'', the [[New Latin]] for "sea eagle," (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''haliaetos'') and ''leucocephalus'', the Greek for "white head," from ''leukos'' ("white") and ''kephale'' ("head").

==Range, habitat, and restoration==
The Bald Eagle's natural range includes most of North America, including most of [[Canada]], all of the continental United States, and northern [[Mexico]]. The bird itself is able to live in most of North America's varied habitat from the [[bayou]]s of [[Louisiana]] to the [[Sonoran Desert|Sonoran desert]] to the eastern deciduous forests of [[Quebec]] and [[New England]]. It can be a [[bird migration|migratory]] bird but it also is not unheard of for a nesting pair to overwinter in a particular area.

Once it was very common to see a Bald Eagle soaring over the landscape, but unfortunately this was one of the species hit hard by widespread use of [[DDT]], in the mid-twentieth century. Unlike some others, the pesticide itself wasn't poisonous to the bird but rather either made it sterile or inhibited its ability to lay healthy eggs: the eagle would ingest the chemical through its food and then lay eggs that were too brittle to withstand the weight of a brooding adult. By the 1960's there were fewer than 500 nesting pairs in the contiguous 48 states of the USA. Currently it is still slowly but steadily recovering its numbers; it can be found in, growing concentrations throughout the U.S. and [[Canada]], particularly near large [[body of water|bodies of water]]. The US state with the largest resident population is [[Alaska]]; out of the estimated 100,000 Bald Eagles on [[Earth]], half live there.

The only Bald Eagle hatched outside North America was on [[May 3]] [[2006]] in a zoo in the German city of [[Magdeburg]].

==Description==
[[Image:bald.eagle.longshot.arp.500pix.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Bald Eagle at Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, North Devon, England]]
An immature bird has speckled brown [[feather]]s all over, the distinctive head and body [[plumage]] arriving 2–3 years later, before sexual maturity; it is distinguishable from a [[Golden Eagle]] in that the latter has feathers which extend down the leg. Their life span is approximately 50 years. Adult females have a wingspan of approximately 2.1 meters (7 feet); adult males have a wingspan of 2 meters (6 feet, 6 inches). Adult females weigh approximately 5.8 kg (12.8 lb), males weigh 4.1 kg (9 lb).

Bald Eagles are protected by two federal laws in the [[United States]]: the Bald Eagle Protection Act (1940), which protects Bald and [[Golden Eagle]]s, and the [[Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918|Migratory Bird Treaty Act]] (1918).

==Behavior==
Bald Eagles build huge nest platforms out of branches, usually in large trees. Pairs, who mate for life, add material to the nest each breeding season. After several years, the nest may weigh upwards of 450 kg (one thousand pounds).

Bald Eagles that are old enough to breed often return to the area where they were raised. They are more social than many other raptor species: an adult looking for a nesting site is more likely to select a location that contains other breeding Bald Eagles.

Bald Eagles are powerful fliers, and also soar on thermal convection currents. They are long-lived, with reports of birds in captivity living to be 60 years old.

Bald Eagles normally squeak and have a shrill cry, punctuated by grunts. They do not make the "eagle scream" as often shown on television. What many recognize as the call of this species is actually the call of a [[Red-tailed hawk]] dubbed into the film.

When breeding in the [[tundra]] biome, where there are no trees, eagles will nest directly on the ground.

==Reproduction==
Bald Eagles are sexually mature at 4 or 5 years of age. Mated pairs produce between one and three [[egg (biology)|egg]]s per year, but it is rare for all three chicks to successfully fledge. Both the male and female of the pair take turns sitting on the eggs. The other parent will hunt for food or forage for nest material in the intervening time.

Third chicks are sometimes removed from nests to use in [[reintroduction]] programs in areas where the species has died out.

In such programs, the [[bird]]s are raised in boxes, on platforms in the tree canopy, and fed in such a way that they cannot see the person supplying their food, until they are old enough to fly and find their own.

==Diet==
The Bald Eagle's diet is varied, including [[carrion]], [[fish]], smaller [[bird]]s, [[rodent]]s, and sometimes food scavenged or stolen from campsites and picnics.

To hunt fish, the eagle swoops down over the water and snatches the fish out of the water with its [[talons]]. They eat by holding the fish in one claw and tearing the flesh with the other. Eagles have structures on their toes called [[spiricules]] that allow them to grasp fish. [[Osprey]] also have this adaptation.

Sometimes, if the fish is too heavy to lift, the eagle will be dragged into the water. It may swim to safety, but some eagles drown or succumb to [[hypothermia]].

==Eagles and humans==
As the symbol of the United States, the Bald Eagle is sought after as a captive bird in that country. Permits are required to keep this species. As a rule, it is a poor bird for public shows, being timid, prone to becoming highly stressed, and unpredictable in nature.

==Rare vagrant==
This species has occurred as a [[Vagrancy (biology)|vagrant]] once in [[Ireland]]. The poor exhausted specimen was discovered by a [[national park]]s worker in a northern heath. Presumably, a storm blew it out to sea, and the bird struggled across the [[Atlantic Ocean]].

==National bird of the U.S.==
The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the [[United States]] of America. It is easily the most recognizable symbol of the U.S. and appears on most of that country's official seals, including the [[Seal of the President of the United States]].

Its national significance dates back to [[June 20]], [[1782]], when the [[Continental Congress]] officially adopted the current design for the [[Great Seal of the United States]] including a Bald Eagle grasping arrows and an olive branch with its [[talons]]. Some states had earlier adopted the bird as a symbol; for example [[New York State]] did so in 1778.

In 1784, after the end of the [[Revolutionary War]], [[Benjamin Franklin]] wrote a famous letter to his daughter from [[Paris]] criticizing the choice and suggesting the [[Wild Turkey]] as an alternative:

:''For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

:''With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .

:''I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.''

Despite Franklin's objections the Bald Eagle remained the emblem of the United States. It appears on many official seals in addition to the back of the [[Quarter (U.S. coin)|quarter]] dollar coin, its head always oriented towards the olive branch.

== Bald Eagles as Religious Objects ==

The bald [[eagle]] is a sacred bird in some cultures and the [[feathers]] of the bald [[eagle]], like the [[golden eagle]], are central to many [[religious]] and [[spiritual]] customs, most notably amongst [[Native Americans]]. [[Native Americans]] revere [[eagle]]s as [[sacred]] religious objects and the [[feathers]] and parts of bald and golden eagle are often compared to the [[Bible]] and [[crucifix]]. [[Eagle]] [[feather]]s are often used in traditional ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery.

Despite modern and historic Native American practices of giving [[eagle]] feathers to non-Native Americans and [[Native American]] members of other tribes who have been deemed worthy, current [[eagle feather law]] stipulates that only individuals of certifiable [[Native American]] ancestry enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain bald or golden eagle feathers for [[religious]] or [[spiritual]] use.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:resting
Image:with egg

Image:Bald.:Bald_Eagle_tgo.jpg|Roosting
</gallery>

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49336|title=Haliaeetus leucocephalus|downloaded=09 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

==External links==
{{commons|Haliaeetus leucocephalus}}
*[http://images.fws.gov/default.cfm?fuseaction=records.display&CFID=2060719&CFTOKEN=64720564&id=5C7D1A7F%2DF41E%2D4C0A%2D87A4F0A6E628BD0E 11.9" x 8" 1.24 MB Bald Eagle JPEG] provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
*[http://www.greatseal.com/symbols/turkey.html Ben Franklin - the Eagle and the Turkey]
*[http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/baldeagle/nationalbird.cfm?photo=1 Eagle vs. Turkey]
*[http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/default.asp Live web cam of a Bald Eagle nest in British Columbia]
*[http://www.nu.com/eagles/default.asp Live web cam of a Bald Eagle nest in Massachusetts]
*[http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/ Bald Eagle Information]


[[Category:Eagles]]
[[Category:Avifauna of Washington]]



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