People walking in the snow Give the gift of membership.
People walking in the snow Give the gift of membership.

Mass Audubon State of the Birds

Find a Bird

Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis

The most common hawk in many Massachusetts towns and cities, the Red-tailed Hawk has recovered from past declines to possibly attain its densest-ever population in Massachusetts. It is nearly ubiquitous as a breeder in the Commonwealth.
Conservation Status
No Action: Likely Increase

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Least Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.53
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.54
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
0.00
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
3.40
National Audubon Societyb
n/a
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
474
Atlas II Blocks
849
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
48
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
81
Percent change
158

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
1.7%
P-value
not significant
Number of routes
27
Recent trend 2000-2010
1.1%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
4
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1963-1979)
8
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1979-2008)
2
Significantly different than zero
yes
Christmas Bird Count Sightings By Year
Data reflects sightings per person per hour in order to account for varying numbers of yearly volunteers.

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Forest, Urban and Suburban

Wintering

Forest, Urban and Suburban

Climate Suitability Current and 2050