Big Red Showcases Her Red Tail While Watching Over Nestlings

Watch as Big Red fans her striking red tail toward the camera during a preening session at the Cornell Hawks nest. While Red-tailed Hawks are named for their iconic brick-orange tails, the color and patterning of their plumage—including their tails—varies widely across the 16 subspecies found throughout North America.

Learn more about how researchers aim to uncover the mysteries of Red-tailed Hawk diversity in this recent article from Living Bird magazine’s Spring 2025 issue.