Subspecies Guide

This page is under construction, but we’re keeping it live so that what is complete can be used!

The Red-tailed Hawk comprises many subspecies throughout North and Central America, from the Pacific to Atlantic coasts, the tree-line in Alaska and Canada south to the forests of Panama, and the Caribbean. Our current understanding of many of these subspecies, their identification, and their distributions, is limited. As a result, with ongoing research the distinctions we outline below may change.

Eastern (borealis) – monomorphic

Explore borealis in the Macaulay Library

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Northern (abieticola) – polymorphic*

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Krider’s (kriderii) – monomorphic

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Harlan’s (harlani) – polymorphic

Identification plate!

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Alaskan (alascensis) – monomorphic*

Subspecies account

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Florida (umbrinus) – monomorphic

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Fuertes (fuertesi) – monomorphic

Subspecies account

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fumosus – monomorphic

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Socorro (socorroensis) – polymorphic

Subspecies account

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Baja (suttoni) – polymorphic

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Caribbean ( jamaicensis) – monomorphic

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Cuban (solitudinus) – monomorphic

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Mexican (hadropus)* – polymorphic

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kemsiesi – polymorphic

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costaricensis – monomorphic

Explore costaricensis in the Macaulay Library

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*research pending on these designations