Because of its habitat and range, it is also the only Falcon or Accipiter that most people are likely to see. The Buteos are the largest of the hawks. The Red-tail is the largest hawk, usually weighing between 2 and 4 pounds. This species shows a great deal of individual variation in plumage. The adult has a rufous-colored tail that may or may not have a black terminal bar.
Adults are dark brown on the back and the top of their wings.
The underside of the bird is usually light with a dark belly band, and a cinnamon wash on the neck and chest. . The adult Red-tailed Hawk is easily identified, for when it leaves its perch on slow, measured wing beats, or turns while soaring overhead, the broad, rounded tail shows a rich, russet red, hence the name. Within its range, its frequent soaring and loud voice are a good pointer. The Red-tailed Hawk is the most common member of the buzzard hawk family. The eyesight of a hawk is 8 times as powerful as a human's.