Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 17.7–22 in
45–56 cm - Wingspan
- 46.9–55.1 in
119–140 cm - Weight
- 4.2–4.9 oz
119–140 g
Other Names
- Aguililla aura
- (French)
- Buse à queue barrée (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Zone-tailed Hawk is aggressive in the defense of its nesting territory, attacking animals as large as Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and humans.
- The Zone-tailed Hawk looks very similar in flight to Turkey Vultures, and it often flies with them. It has been suggested that the hawk is a mimic of the vulture and uses its similarity to sneak up on prey that would not hide from vultures.
Habitat
Open Woodland
Arid, semi-open country, especially open deciduous or pine-oak woodland, often nesting in tall trees along streams.
Food
Birds
Birds, mammals, and lizards.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–3 eggs
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless and covered in down.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Soaring
The Zone-tailed Hawk engages in spectacular courtship displays, performing aerial loops, dives, and rolls, with both male and female diving from heights of about 300-500 m (1,000-1,600 ft).
Conservation
Least Concern
Increasing in the United States.
Credits
- Johnson, R. R., R. L. Glinski, and S. W. Matteson. 2000. Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus). In The Birds of North America, No. 529 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.