<Ul> <Li> B. j. jamaicensis, the nominate subspecies, occurs in the northern West Indies, including Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles but not the Bahamas or Cuba . El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico holds some of the highest known density of red - tailed hawks anywhere . The bird is referred to as "Guaraguao" in the island . This is the smallest bodied subspecies of red - tailed hawk . In males, the wing chord can range from 330 to 339 mm (13.0 to 13.3 in), averaging 334.9 mm (13.19 in), and, in females, it ranges from 350 to 371 mm (13.8 to 14.6 in), averaging 364.9 mm (14.37 in). Additionally, males and females average 194.8 and 210 mm (7.67 and 8.27 in) in tail length, 81.3 and 83.4 mm (3.20 and 3.28 in) in tarsal length and 26.1 and 28.2 mm (1.03 and 1.11 in) in culmen length . Additionally, two Puerto Rican males were found to average 795 g (1.753 lb) and two females averaged 1,023 g (2.255 lb). Although claimed as the most sexual dimorphic subspecies by size, neither body mass nor linear dimensions seem to support this . This subspecies has less mottling than northern red - tails on the back, lacks the white tip at the end of the rectrices and, most characteristically, has a very broad, but raggedly edged, and black belly - band . </Li> <Li> B. j. alascensis breeds (probably resident) from southeastern coastal Alaska to the Queen Charlotte Islands and Vancouver Island in British Columbia . Despite its northerly distribution, this is a small subspecies linearly, second only to the nominate race in diminutive size . The largest females from this race are reportedly smaller than almost all male red - tails from other races in Canada . In wing chord males range from 334 to 362 mm (13.1 to 14.3 in), averaging 346.5 mm (13.64 in), and females range from 358 to 363 mm (14.1 to 14.3 in), averaging 360.5 mm (14.19 in). males and females average 227.6 and 226.9 mm (8.96 and 8.93 in) in tail length, 86.9 and 83.2 mm (3.42 and 3.28 in) in tarsal length and 24.4 and 26.4 mm (0.96 and 1.04 in) in culmen length . This race is darker than pale morph calurus hawks, nearly solidly dark - brown above with almost no pale mottling on the scapulars . The breast is slightly rufous with dark arrowheads rather than streaking around the belly (although not all alascensis have the arrowheads, probably through hybridization with other races), meanwhile the rest of the underside down to the "trousers" is paler and more washed out than on calurus . Immatures of this race are usually blackish - brown overall with a white throat and wide tail - bands, rather unlike calurus . </Li> <Li> B. j. borealis group (eastern red - tailed hawk) breeds from southeast Canada and Maine south through Texas and east to northern Florida . The race breeds below the Arctic (unlike more western birds which can reach the sub-Arctic as breeders), and is absent from all but the southernmost part of the Hudson Bay and roughly the northern third of both Quebec and Newfoundland . Wintering migrants from southern Ontario may range east to southern Maine and south to as far as the Gulf coast and Florida . The western limits of this races' range are slightly ambiguous and they may hybridize extensively with calurus in timbered stretches of the Great Plains . The breeding range of borealis seems to include most of Texas (perhaps excluding the western sections), Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska . In the Dakotas and even eastern Wyoming, some borealis may occur but give way mostly to calurus and / or kriderii type red - tailed hawks, with the borealis type - hawks breeding without race mixing to the western border of Minnesota and the eastern third of Manitoba . This is a large - bodied, relatively heavy race, but differs from more westerly hawks in having a relatively smaller wing area . Based on linear dimensions, this subspecies shows the most size variation and, unlike the red - tailed hawk species overall, size variation seems to fall within Bergmann's rule as northern birds average larger than the southern ones . The wing chord of males can range from 337 to 396 mm (13.3 to 15.6 in), averaging 370.1 mm (14.57 in), and, in females, it ranges from 370 to 427 mm (14.6 to 16.8 in), averaging 390.2 mm (15.36 in). Additionally, males and females average 215.4 and 230.1 mm (8.48 and 9.06 in) in tail length, 82.4 and 85 mm (3.24 and 3.35 in) in tarsal length and 25.1 and 27.6 mm (0.99 and 1.09 in) in culmen length . The largest known sample of body weights from unambiguous borealis was from Wisconsin migrants, with 34 males averaging 945.3 g (2.084 lb) and 24 females averaging 1,222.4 g (2.695 lb). This race only has pale morphs and almost always bears a whitish ground color with little barring overall, including a variably present dark necklace, a frequently absent or much reduced belly - band and little to no barring on the flanks or the upper legs . Immature borealis tend to have dark spotting on leg feathers but otherwise average paler than immatures of most other races . This race includes a form from the northern stretches of its range (mostly breeding within Canada), formerly considered as B. j. abieticola . Birds of abieticola type are more heavily marked below than typical borealis and, thus borealis seem to correspond to Gloger's rule, as well . This plumage variation appears to be a regional adaptation to the denser boreal forest . </Li> <Li> B. j. calurus (western red - tailed hawk) This race seem to have the greatest longitudinal breeding distribution of any race of red - tailed hawk and put together with B. j. borealis these two subspecies may occupy nearly 75% of the breeding range of red - tailed hawks in North America . B. j. calurus reaches its northern limits as a breeder in north - central British Columbia, much of the western part of the Yukon territory, interior Alaska and, near Inuvik in the Northwest Territories, the latter being the northernmost breeding range of the red - tailed hawk species . The race may breed as far south as northwestern Sonora in Mexico . Its eastern limits are reached around central Manitoba, while to the south the states of Montana, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado are mostly occupied by calurus . Wintering birds from interior southwestern British Columbia may move south to as far as southwest to Guatemala and northern Nicaragua . Linearly, this relatively large subspecies can seem to run almost contrary to Bergmann's rule, with birds of the Great Basin being longer winged than most Canadian ones . In wing chord males range from 354 to 404 mm (13.9 to 15.9 in), averaging 386.8 mm (15.23 in), and females range from 386 to 428 mm (15.2 to 16.9 in), averaging 411.2 mm (16.19 in). males and females average 224.2 and 237.3 mm (8.83 and 9.34 in) in tail length, 85.4 and 88.1 mm (3.36 and 3.47 in) in tarsal length and 25.1 and 27.4 mm (0.99 and 1.08 in) in culmen length . The two largest samples of body mass in calurus showed that in Idaho, around the greater area of the Snake River NCA, 90 males averaged 957 g (2.110 lb) and 113 females averaged 1,150 g (2.54 lb), while 152 migrating calurus at the Goshutes Mountains of Nevada averaged 933.4 g (2.058 lb). Adult calurus are usually rangier and darker than borealis hawks, with pale individuals usually having a richer tawny base color (with occasionally a pale rufous color showing around the chest or neck), typically a heavily streaked breast and belly band, a brownish throat, dark barring on the flanks, a well - defined tawny V on the back and, occasionally, a tail with multiple bars . Dark morph calurus adults are typically all chocolate - brown above and below (although sometimes variously even jet - black or with a bit of tawny feather edging below) with a rufous - tail, which sometimes has heavy blackish crossbars but is usually similar to other red - tails . Intermediate or rufous morphs are rich rufous on the breast, with a broad, solid chocolate - brown belly band and heavily barred thighs and crissum . Like dark morphs, rufous morph adults usually lack the incomplete V on the back, but sometimes rufous feathers can manifest one . Adults may show nearly endless variation in coloring and many may combine several characteristics of the three main morphs . Dark morph juveniles are usually mostly dark brown but with extensive pale mottling on the back and occasional tawny - edge feathers on the underside and slightly broader bars on the tail than pale morph calurus . Rufous morph immatures are more similar to pale morph ones but are considerably more heavily streaked almost everywhere below from the thighs to the upper chest . Individuals of northwestern Mexico may average paler than most calurus, lacking the typical dark wing markings . </Li> <Li> B. j. costaricensis is resident from Nicaragua to Panama . This is a relatively small race . The wing chord of males can range from 368 to 391 mm (14.5 to 15.4 in), averaging 372.7 mm (14.67 in), and, in females, it ranges from 393 to 427 mm (15.5 to 16.8 in), averaging 401.9 mm (15.82 in). Additionally, males and females average 213.2 and 230 mm (8.39 and 9.06 in) in tail length, 88.6 and 86.9 mm (3.49 and 3.42 in) in tarsal length and 26 and 26.7 mm (1.02 and 1.05 in) in culmen length . This race may average around 900 g (2.0 lb), reportedly . This subspecies is arguably the most handsomely colored in typical adult plumage . This subspecies is dark brown above and heavily pigmented dorsally, the white of breast contrasting with a deep rufous abdominal band which contains black streaks and spots . Meanwhile, the flanks, wing linings and sides are an unbarred deep rufous . In some birds, the rich rufous color continues to the underside . The chest is much less heavily streaked than in northern migrants (B. j. calurus) to Central America . Unlike other Central American races of red - tailed hawk, there seems to be no dark morph in this subspecies . </Li> <Li> B. j. fuertesi (southwestern red - tailed hawk) breeds from northern Chihuahua to southern Texas . It winters in Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Louisiana . This seems to be a particularly large subspecies, although its size is not drastically different from calurus, and, going on average wing size and tarsal length, this appears to be the largest race of red - tailed hawk . The wing chord of males can range from 385 to 402 mm (15.2 to 15.8 in), averaging 393.3 mm (15.48 in), and, in females, it ranges from 425 to 436 mm (16.7 to 17.2 in), averaging 430.7 mm (16.96 in). Additionally, males and females average 210.9 and 223.8 mm (8.30 and 8.81 in) in tail length, 88 and 93 mm (3.5 and 3.7 in) in tarsal length and 26.3 and 27.5 mm (1.04 and 1.08 in) in culmen length . Hybridization seems to occur in eastern Texas with borealis, broadly to west with calurus and, possibly, Nuevo León - Chihuahua with B. j. hadropus . This race combines the darker back of calurus with the paler underside of borealis, with the belly - band either entirely absent or only manifesting in light streaking . The tail is variable but relatively pale, with some individuals showing almost no dark subterminal band, others having quite a broad subterminal band and some showing extensively barring on top like darker morphs of calurus . </Li> <Li> B. j. fumosus, Islas Marías, Mexico . A relatively small subspecies . Unlike some other island races, the validity of this race has rarely been called into question . The wing chord of males can range from 368 to 370 mm (14.5 to 14.6 in), averaging 369.3 mm (14.54 in), and, in females, it ranges from 395 to 400 mm (15.6 to 15.7 in), averaging 397.4 mm (15.65 in). Males and females average 228.9 and 235.5 mm (9.01 and 9.27 in) in tail length, 85.9 and 88.3 mm (3.38 and 3.48 in) in tarsal length and 27.4 and 29.2 mm (1.08 and 1.15 in) in culmen length . This race is similar to calurus but, beyond being noticeably smaller, is duskier and duller hued overall and has a more cinnamon wash below, with heavily dark barred thighs . </Li> </Ul> <Li> B. j. jamaicensis, the nominate subspecies, occurs in the northern West Indies, including Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles but not the Bahamas or Cuba . El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico holds some of the highest known density of red - tailed hawks anywhere . The bird is referred to as "Guaraguao" in the island . This is the smallest bodied subspecies of red - tailed hawk . In males, the wing chord can range from 330 to 339 mm (13.0 to 13.3 in), averaging 334.9 mm (13.19 in), and, in females, it ranges from 350 to 371 mm (13.8 to 14.6 in), averaging 364.9 mm (14.37 in). Additionally, males and females average 194.8 and 210 mm (7.67 and 8.27 in) in tail length, 81.3 and 83.4 mm (3.20 and 3.28 in) in tarsal length and 26.1 and 28.2 mm (1.03 and 1.11 in) in culmen length . Additionally, two Puerto Rican males were found to average 795 g (1.753 lb) and two females averaged 1,023 g (2.255 lb). Although claimed as the most sexual dimorphic subspecies by size, neither body mass nor linear dimensions seem to support this . This subspecies has less mottling than northern red - tails on the back, lacks the white tip at the end of the rectrices and, most characteristically, has a very broad, but raggedly edged, and black belly - band . </Li> <Li> B. j. alascensis breeds (probably resident) from southeastern coastal Alaska to the Queen Charlotte Islands and Vancouver Island in British Columbia . Despite its northerly distribution, this is a small subspecies linearly, second only to the nominate race in diminutive size . The largest females from this race are reportedly smaller than almost all male red - tails from other races in Canada . In wing chord males range from 334 to 362 mm (13.1 to 14.3 in), averaging 346.5 mm (13.64 in), and females range from 358 to 363 mm (14.1 to 14.3 in), averaging 360.5 mm (14.19 in). males and females average 227.6 and 226.9 mm (8.96 and 8.93 in) in tail length, 86.9 and 83.2 mm (3.42 and 3.28 in) in tarsal length and 24.4 and 26.4 mm (0.96 and 1.04 in) in culmen length . This race is darker than pale morph calurus hawks, nearly solidly dark - brown above with almost no pale mottling on the scapulars . The breast is slightly rufous with dark arrowheads rather than streaking around the belly (although not all alascensis have the arrowheads, probably through hybridization with other races), meanwhile the rest of the underside down to the "trousers" is paler and more washed out than on calurus . Immatures of this race are usually blackish - brown overall with a white throat and wide tail - bands, rather unlike calurus . </Li> <Li> B. j. borealis group (eastern red - tailed hawk) breeds from southeast Canada and Maine south through Texas and east to northern Florida . The race breeds below the Arctic (unlike more western birds which can reach the sub-Arctic as breeders), and is absent from all but the southernmost part of the Hudson Bay and roughly the northern third of both Quebec and Newfoundland . Wintering migrants from southern Ontario may range east to southern Maine and south to as far as the Gulf coast and Florida . The western limits of this races' range are slightly ambiguous and they may hybridize extensively with calurus in timbered stretches of the Great Plains . The breeding range of borealis seems to include most of Texas (perhaps excluding the western sections), Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska . In the Dakotas and even eastern Wyoming, some borealis may occur but give way mostly to calurus and / or kriderii type red - tailed hawks, with the borealis type - hawks breeding without race mixing to the western border of Minnesota and the eastern third of Manitoba . This is a large - bodied, relatively heavy race, but differs from more westerly hawks in having a relatively smaller wing area . Based on linear dimensions, this subspecies shows the most size variation and, unlike the red - tailed hawk species overall, size variation seems to fall within Bergmann's rule as northern birds average larger than the southern ones . The wing chord of males can range from 337 to 396 mm (13.3 to 15.6 in), averaging 370.1 mm (14.57 in), and, in females, it ranges from 370 to 427 mm (14.6 to 16.8 in), averaging 390.2 mm (15.36 in). Additionally, males and females average 215.4 and 230.1 mm (8.48 and 9.06 in) in tail length, 82.4 and 85 mm (3.24 and 3.35 in) in tarsal length and 25.1 and 27.6 mm (0.99 and 1.09 in) in culmen length . The largest known sample of body weights from unambiguous borealis was from Wisconsin migrants, with 34 males averaging 945.3 g (2.084 lb) and 24 females averaging 1,222.4 g (2.695 lb). This race only has pale morphs and almost always bears a whitish ground color with little barring overall, including a variably present dark necklace, a frequently absent or much reduced belly - band and little to no barring on the flanks or the upper legs . Immature borealis tend to have dark spotting on leg feathers but otherwise average paler than immatures of most other races . This race includes a form from the northern stretches of its range (mostly breeding within Canada), formerly considered as B. j. abieticola . Birds of abieticola type are more heavily marked below than typical borealis and, thus borealis seem to correspond to Gloger's rule, as well . This plumage variation appears to be a regional adaptation to the denser boreal forest . </Li>

Pa bird with red on back of head