The
red-tailed hawk (
Buteo jamaicensis) is a
bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "
chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western
Alaska and northern
Canada to as far south as
Panama and the
West Indies, and is one of the most common
buteos in
North America. Red-tailed hawks can acclimate to all the
biomes within their range. There are fourteen recognized subspecies, which vary in appearance and range. It is one of the largest members of the genus
Buteo in North America, typically weighing from and measuring in length, with a wingspan from . The red-tailed hawk displays
sexual dimorphism in size, with females averaging about 25% heavier than males. The bird is sometimes referred to as the
red-tail for short, when the meaning is clear in context.