Red-tailed Hawk: New White House Groundskeeper?

Earlier this week, the White House reported the sighting of a new guest on their famous grounds -- a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk.

Red-tailed Hawks are abundant across the United States, and have adapted well to developed areas. Pale Male, New York City's famous hawk, is an example of the large raptor thriving in an urban environment (he and his mate have three young that are about to fledge from their famous nest).

The appearance of a predator on the White House grounds is a good sign for visiting birders, but not so good for any resident rodents living on the property. Red-tailed Hawks prey upon mice, rats, voles, rabbits, and other mammals, as well as other birds, reptiles, and amphibians. This raptor might just earn a spot as a groundskeeper 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Fun Fact: Did you know that the Red-tailed Hawk makes a raspy call that is almost always used in popular media as the voice of our national bird, the Bald Eagle? How appropriate would it be to hear the majestic cry of the Red-tailed Hawk while visiting the White House?


Photo by DJ Patil

Comments

Louise Warner on February 8, 2017 at 5:54 PM wrote:
i'v heard of him! it's a long stroy.
Spurwing Plover on January 26, 2022 at 8:18 AM wrote:
PALE MALE

Leave a comment

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.
Your email address will not be published
You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy. By clicking submit below, you consent to allow Birdorable to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested.

A Tale of Two Tanagers: Brown Tanager & Brown-flanked Tanager

Two of our newest birds here at Birdorable are the Brown Tanager and Brown-flanked Tanager. The two different species may seem similar at first glance due to their names, but they have distinct characteristics, ranges, habits, and habitats. Let's dive into the details of these two...

Crumbivore and Other Totally Real Bird Eating Terms

Whether you've seen birds of prey capture a snack on the wing, you've watched dabbling ducks feeding at the bottom of a pond, or you lure birds to your own yard by offering special snacks, eating is an interesting behavior to observe in birds. For this special edition...

Meet the Southern Lapwing: A Loud and Colorful Defender

Today's new bird is another southern friend, this one native to South America: its the Southern Lapwing! The Southern Lapwing is a striking and charismatic bird found across a wide range in South America, known for its bold appearance and feisty personality. Found in a variety of...

Busting a Bird Myth: Storks Deliver Babies

The myth that storks deliver babies is a charming, old tale rooted in folklore, but it has no basis in reality. Storks don’t actually deliver babies, of course! This idea likely arose from a combination of the bird’s natural behavior and ancient symbolism. The popularity of the myth originates...