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 reddish-brown 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, 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 has a broad, rounded tail that shows a rich, russet red. They nest in the month of March in tall tress.