It was an outstanding autumn morning as the sun slipped above the Hankin Mountain Range. Under a cloudless sky Christine, Rosie, and I sat on a mossy knoll overlooking a lightly wooded area of the Nimpkish Valley. The serenity of harvest colours and the remoteness of these wild surroundings is a welcome retreat to calm a restless heart… a place to relax, take deep breaths of simplicity, and embrace nature. We journey here often to view wildlife, elk, deer, bear and the habitat they depend on. The air carries a cool, soothing freshness that added to our enjoyment. Behind us, tall evergreens older than Confederation stand guard, their roots embedded deep into nutrients rich, dark soil.

Above, a hawk circled gracefully. One moment the raptor was hunting low over Fireweed, rose hips, and wilted brown bracken; the next it ascended an invisible thermal, rising effortlessly to lofty heights. Then the silence was broken by the unmistakable call of a Red-tailed Hawk… an iconic raptor that lives year round in these woodland settings. Was he calling out to Rosie, who was curiously looking up, or was the hawk simply enjoying the morning as we were?

The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most recognizable and defining presence of hawk on Vancouver Island and in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. Exceptionally adaptive, these hawks thrive in open fields, wetlands, forest edges, wide valleys, and coastal environments. Vancouver Island hosts two subspecies: the Alaskan Red-tailed Hawk and the Western Red-tailed Hawk.

The Alaskan subspecies, featured in this article, is typically slightly smaller, darker, and more common along the coast. It has a heavily streaked breast and deep overall coloration suited to the wet temperate rainforests, with a rich cinnamon red tail in mature birds that catches the light and one’s eye dramatically. The Nimpkish Valley, to our wildlife viewing pleasure, lies squarely within this subspecies’ breeding range, which extends from southeastern Alaska through Haida Gwaii and down the length of Vancouver Island.

Distinguishing the two subspecies at a distance is a challenge, as both share behaviours and general structure. However, the Alaskan is more compact, darker, and more boldly marked, with a saturated cinnamon tail. In contrast, the Western Red-tailed Hawk is generally larger and paler, with lighter chest markings and a more brick red tail; subtle but intriguing differences.

Both subspecies have hunting styles well suited to our Pacific Northwest. Small mammals make up much of their diet. Near wetlands, flatlands, forest edges, and shorelines, menu possibilities change as local area inhabitants change. This broad appetite helps explain the bird’s success. It is not tied to a single landscape or food source. If one area becomes less productive, the hawk simply changes location to hunt suitable alternative prey. When it comes to nest sites, Red-tailed Hawks generally prefer prime real estate: older growth conifers that offer height and a good view of surrounding small mammal habitat… open expanses. They seem to know mature trees provide strong, wind proven branches affording nesting protection. The nest is robust mass of sticks and branches and lined with softer materials such as bark, grass, moss, and lichen. Over the years, a pair may reuse the same nest, adding volume with new material each breeding season. Some nests can be surprisingly large and may look like an untidy bundle of branches. But inside… a comfortable protective nursery and lookout all in one.

During courtship, a pair may soar together high above their territory, calling and circling in broad, graceful loops in a sky dance. They may excite onlookers with a thrilling free-fall clenched together, releasing at the last moment. Mating however does not occur in the air, rather later back on earth. Afterwards two to three eggs are generally laid. The female often handles much of the incubation while the male supplies food, although duties can be shared. Chicks hatch after several weeks and begin life entirely dependent on their parents. One parent generally stays near the nest to guard the young while the other hunts. When food arrives, the adults tear it into smaller pieces that the chicks voraciously devour.

The first flight is an important moment, but it does not mean the young hawk is suddenly independent. Fledglings, like all raptor species, still need their parents for food and protection for up to another two months or more while they learn how to fly and recognize suitable prey. Some young stay loosely associated with their attentive parents for up to six months.

Most Red-tailed Hawks on Vancouver Island remain in the area year round. Our Island’s temperate climate and bountiful prey make migration unnecessary. Other hawks from northern British Columbia may migrate and pass through the Pacific Northwest during their travels.

In Canada, the Red-tailed Hawk is not generally considered endangered. It is widespread and protected under wildlife Federal laws.  Active nests and young receive additional protection under provincial regulations. Still, populations can be negatively affected by industrial and forestry practices, destruction of grasslands and forest edges, disturbance near nests, and exposure to pollution. The Wild Kingdom indeed faces a host of challenges, especially young birds. Many Red-tailed Hawks do not survive their first year even under their parent’s tutelage as they learn to fly, and hunt. Those that do reach adulthood may live for ten to twelve years or longer. Some individuals have banded evidence of living over three decades! Goodconservation practices and responsible stewardship include protecting habitat, preserving open hunting grounds, reducing disturbance near nests, and safeguarding clean, intact ecosystems. Working together we can give these remarkable hawks a better chance of thriving for future generations.

From a distance it is easy to confuse a Red-tailed Hawk with a Peregrine Falcon (a subject of an earlier article). However, a Red-tailed Hawk is more broad winged, heavy bodied, and designed for soaring and hunting near the ground. 

The Peregrine Falcon is slimmer, with long pointed wings and a more streamlined shape. Peregrines are famous for their spectacular stoop… a high speed dive used to strike birds in flight. They are the fastest animals on Earth when diving.

Red-tailed Hawks can certainly dive however, they generally rely more on patient observation, soaring searches, perches, and controlled descents. They hunt small mammals on the ground; voles, rabbits, mice rather than fast flying birds. 

The nesting choices of the two species also differ. Red-tailed Hawks often choose tall trees near open ground, while Peregrine Falcons traditionally favour cliffs and ledges.

Both species are year round residents on Vancouver Island. They share the same broad region, yet Mother Nature has assigned each a different ecological role: the Peregrines often rules the open sky, while Red-tailed Hawks keeps watch over fields, forest margins, and valley floors.

So, the next time you see a Red-tailed Hawk circling above Vancouver Island, take a moment to watch. Notice how little effort goes into the flight. Listen for the bold, screeching call. Look for the red tail of an adult, or the barred brown tail of a youngster. The Red tailed Hawk is not merely a familiar shape in the sky… these remarkable birds of prey are a part of the living conversation between forest and field, wind and mountain, predator and prey.

Our sighting this morning as the sun rose above the Hankin Range reminded Christine and I that wildlife in the valley does not always arrive with loud applause or magnificent antlers. Sometimes it circles quietly overhead, riding the warm air, watching, waiting, and calling…. making these wilderness surroundings feel a little more alive.

Safe travels,

Gord