Friday Feathered Fact
The most variable (and common) of the raptors in the US is the Red-tailed Hawk. Identifying this bird is even more complex when you realize each subspecies can have a dark, medium, and light “phase” or “morph” – sometimes within the same nest of young. Additionally, a young hawk can look different from the adult for up to 2 years! This hawk’s appearance ranges from extreme pale to moderate brown to solid cinnamon to all dark chocolate. Take a look at the sampling of photos. All of these are Red-tailed Hawks and, all of these were photographed within Arizona!