The red-tailed hawk is found throughout the United States and Canada, into Mexico and Central America. The red-tailed hawk averages 19 to 24 inches in length.
Plumage ranges from light auburn to deep brown.
The underbelly is distinctly lighter than the rest of the body, with a dark belly band across it. The cere, the soft skin at the base of the beak, the legs, and the feet are all yellow. Red-tailed hawks feed on a wide variety of prey, using their powerful claws as weapons. Mammals as large as the eastern cottontail may be taken also. Reptiles and other birds consist of the rest of their diet.