Ashley and Crippen Photographers, Toronto|Corporate Headshots/Executive Headshots 

Birds

Red Tail Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

One of the most common American hawks, the Red-tailed is seen across much of North America and summer up into Canada. It can be spotted soaring over open country, particularly if there are nearby woods offering seclusion for nesting. It builds a large and solid nest, up to 75 feet above ground in a tree or on a cliff, with a small cup in the centre lined with fine green shoots. This contains 1-4 whitish eggs, which are incubated for 27-33 days; the chicks stay in the nest for up to 5 weeks after hatching. The colouring of the adult bird varies according to its range, but the differences are not substantial. It usually has a dark brown back with V-shaped lines of pale mottling, and is white underneath with distinctive band of dark streaks. The bill is quite heavy and the tail is reddish above and whitish beneath. The Red-tailed Hawk sits for hours on a telegraph pole or fence post, before gliding off to catch its prey; it mainly eats rodents, which makes it very popular with farmers.