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called the Sparrow Hawk. Falcons have a streamlined body, long, pointed wings and long tails. A series of strong, rapid wing beats gives them extremely fast flight in open country, and their swiftness allows them to overtake and capture other birds on the wing. The American Kestrel is the smallest of our hawks and feeds mainly on mice and insects. It is the only one of the falcons that hovers over its intended prey. 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. They are the broad-winged, broad-tailed soaring hawks that are more readily seen because of their habit of circling high in the air or perching in dead trees or on telephone poles along the road. They include the Red-tailed, the Red-shouldered, the Swainson's, the Rough-legged and the Ferruginous hawks. Description The Red-tail is the largest hawk, usually weighing between 2 and 4 pounds. As with most raptors, the female is nearly 1/3 larger than the male and may have a wing span of 56 inches. This species shows a great deal of individual variation in plumage. The adult has arufous-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.. Immatures resemble the adults except their tail is brown with dark bars; the red- tail molts in during its second year. 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. Curious Facts Hawks are carnivores (meat eaters) who belong to the category of birds known as raptors. 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. Like all hawks, the Red-tailed Hawk's talons are its main weapons. The Red-tailed Hawk has hoarse and rasping 2- to3-second scream that is most commonly heard while soaring. 85 to 90 % of the Red-tailed Hawk's diet is composed of small rodents.