Red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are one of the most commonly spotted raptors in Red Rock Canyon. Look for these large birds of prey, with wingspans up to 52 inches long, either flying high in the sky or perched along cliff faces or tall trees. If you are lucky, you can catch courtship dances in the sky during the spring as the male hawk and the female hawk will lock talons and repeatedly fly & fall together. Rodents, songbirds, and other small mammals tend to make up a red-tailed hawk’s diet with the occasional lizard or small snake mixed in. These predators use their sharp vision and high intelligence to chase down meals.

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