***Federal - MBTA***

    Red-tailed Hawks are the most common raptor in the state.  They can be seen perched in trees along the highway, flying along country roads, or breeding on the high mountain peaks.  Numerous pairs nest in open or woodland habitat, where they build large platform nests out of sticks.  Red-tailed Hawks will give out a loud raspy screech if a predator (person) comes too close to the nest.  That is often the first sign that a nest is nearby.  They also go into elaborate defense displays, with hovering and diving at the intruder.  In addition to our large breeding population (for a hawk) many of the northern breeders migrate through and winter in our area.  Red-tails can be identified in flight by the dark belly band, black shoulders, and broad soaring wings.  Sitting they are conspicuous as a large brown bird, with a white underside (the belly band may or may not be visible), a white patch in the back, and the red tail.
    Although Hawks are predators and feed on other animals, they have their place in our ecosystem.  Loathed by small game hunters they seldom prey on game, more often taking voles or mice.  Because they are at the top of the food chain they are good indicators of the ecosystem's overall health.