Red-tailed Hawks can be vexing birds. We tend to think of Northern Harriers and Rough-legged Hawks as hovering raptors, but Red-tails will also hover when the wind and occasion calls for it. They're bulky, all-purpose predators that primarily feed on mammals, but they're nimble enough to catch pigeons, too. They also vary in plumage based on age, range, and individual traits. You can have Red-tails with no belly band, Red-tails that are chocolate brown from head to toe, and even Red-tails without an actual red tail. What can make all of these variables even more frustrating is that these birds are everywhere. In fact, Red-tails are so widespread and common that more often than not, when you see a raptor that you can't identify, chances are good it's a Red-Tailed Hawk. But how do you know for sure? Next time you're trying to figure out if you have a Red-tail, use these six basic questions to work your way through the ID. 4875 Is the tail red? Sure...