Author Archives: Bryce W. Robinson

Distinguishing between juvenile light morph harlani and kriderii can be difficult. The two are extremely similar, being overall quite pale with high contrast markings. They also interbreed, causing individuals that are intermediate in plumage. As with any bird identification, it is best not to not focus on one trait alone. Instead, it is better to make a holistic assessmentContinue reading “Differentiating juvenile light harlani and juvenile kriderii”

We are excited to share a new research article now published in Movement Ecology! In this paper we investigate how atmospheric conditions influenced the timing of water crossing for Red-tailed Hawks at the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan during spring migration. Specifically, we investigated the availability of over-water uplift and its effect on crossing behavior, which hasContinue reading “Published in Movement Ecology: Crossing the straits of Mackinac…”

We are excited to announce the publication of a new research article for an upcoming movement ecology issue in the Journal of Raptor Research. In this paper, we detail the migratory behavior and plumage variation of GPS-tracked adult Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) that summered in Alaska, USA. We found significant levels of migratory connectivity amongContinue reading “Published in the Journal of Raptor Research – Migratory connectivity of Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) from Alaska, USA”

We’ve just completed a new plate that details harlani identification. This is the first plate of many that we hope to make available for how to distinguish between all subspecies. You can download a high resolution version of this plate by clicking on the image below. Stay tuned for more!

We are extremely excited to share that the Spring 2025 issue of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Living Bird Magazine dons a spectacular photo of an adult Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis harlani) taken by Brian Sullivan, and includes a feature article focused on the work of the Red-tailed Hawk Project, written by the talentedContinue reading “The Red-tailed Hawk Project featured in Living Bird magazine”

We’ve posted a new subspecies account for B. j. fuertesi, led by Brian Sullivan! – https://redtailedhawkproject.org/buteo-jamaicensis-fuertesi/ We continue to work on subspecies overviews for all described Red-tailed Hawk subspecies, so keep checking back for information on your favorite subspecies including the identification, taxonomic history, distribution, status, and our assessment of the current knowledge on the taxon. Continue reading “A subspecies account for B. j. fuertesi”

We have two shirt designs available that feature the described subspecies (light morphs only for the polymorphic taxon) as well as a dark morph harlani design. Consider supporting our work by purchasing a shirt, and carrying along a reference when you get out to look at Red-tailed Hawks! To purchase either of these unisex shirtContinue reading “Support our work by purchasing a shirt!”

We’ve posted a new subspecies account for the enigmatic B. j. alascensis, led by Brian Sullivan! – https://redtailedhawkproject.org/buteo-jamaicensis-alascensis/ We’re currently working on subspecies overviews for all described Red-tailed Hawk subspecies. These accounts will feature the identification, taxonomic history, distribution, status, and our assessment of the current status of our knowledge on the taxon. Our ideaContinue reading “A subspecies account for B. j. alascensis”

The Red-tailed Hawk Project’s first publication has now been published in the Journal of Biogeography! The paper details spring migration routes, nesting locations and home ranges of four dark morphs tagged in the Great Lakes region of North America. These data support that dark morphs do indeed breed in eastern Boreal Canada, extending our understandingContinue reading “Published in the Journal of Biogeography – A revision to the distribution of plumage polymorphism in the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)”