Red-tailed Hawk flying with (horizontally-striped, yellow and black) Kingsnake in its talons. Link to California King Snake (Lampropeltis californiae) observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/216894367

Comparison of 3 Hawks commonly seen in Monterey County: Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), and Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii):

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Western Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis ssp. calurus) Range map of subspecies: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, p. 567.

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a large, widespread, migratory bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is probably the most common hawk in North America. Length is 56cm (22 inches); wingspan 127cm (50 inches) with rounded wing tips. The darker head gives it a "hooded" appearance. Pale breast contrasts with darkish head, mottled belly and "V" shaped belly band (more visible in adults). Juveniles have gray-brown tails with many blackish bands. They have a white chest with heavily mottled belly (streaked and spotted with brown coloring on lower abdomen). It is bulky and broad-winged, designed for effortless soaring. It is seen in open country, commonly perched on roadside poles or sailing over fields and woods. Although adults can usually be recognized by the trademark reddish-brown tail, the rest of their plumage can be quite variable. Western birds are typically darker. Immatures do not have a red tail. There are many subspecies.
The Red-tailed Hawk occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, agricultural fields, and urban areas. It favors varied habitats with open woodland, woodland edge and open terrain. All buteos may be noted for their broad wings and sturdy builds. They frequently soar on thermals at midday over openings in the terrain. Red-tailed Hawk is legally protected in Canada, Mexico, and the United States by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/rethaw/

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Buteo-jamaicensis

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-tailed-hawk

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 288, 292, 567.

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, p. 163

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

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COMPARED TO another Buteo:

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) is a medium-sized raptor, 38-48 cm (15-19 inches) long. Buteos are high-soaring hawks. Adult has reddish-orange shoulders. Wings have bold black-and-white checkerboard patterning. Tail is black with white bands. Tail is shorter than Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii).
"Diet includes small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds. Diet varies with region and season. Main items often mammals such as voles and chipmunks, at other times frogs and toads; may eat many crayfish in some areas. Also eats snakes, small birds, mice, large insects, occasionally fish, rarely carrion. Usually hunts by watching from a perch, then swooping down when it locates prey. Sometimes it flies very low in open areas, taking creatures by surprise."
There are several subspecies. In the Western U.S., we have the California Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus ssp. elegans).

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-shouldered-hawk

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/reshaw/

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Buteo-lineatus

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017. pp. 282-283.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp.
pp. 106-107.

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, p. 160.

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name) and https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php

INaturalist Project: Found Feathers https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/found-feathers

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COMPARED TO

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized hawk in the Hawks, Eagles, and Kites (Accipitridae) family. Cooper's Hawk has a long tail with black horizontal stripes and short rounded wings, giving this woodland hawk great agility. "Flight is several quick wingbeats and a glide. Females are larger than males. Looks similar to Sharp-shinned Hawk, but is larger with a bigger head. Cooper's Hawk has a long rounded tail tip, unlike Sharp-shinned Hawk that has a squared off tail tip.
Diet is mostly medium size birds and small mammals. Usually hunts by stealth, moving from perch to perch in dense cover, listening and watching, then putting on a burst of speed to overtake prey. Sometimes cruises low over ground, approaching from behind shrubbery to take prey by surprise."
Conservation Status: Apparently secure (S4) in California, US (NatureServe). Was S3; See: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100417/Accipiter_cooperii

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 7th ed., 2017, pp. 278-279.

Ebird with species description, range map and sound recordings: https://ebird.org/species/coohaw/ and https://ebird.org/explore

Audubon Guide to North American Birds https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/coopers-hawk

Monterey Birds, Don Roberson, 2nd ed. 2002, sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society, pp. 158-159.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, ed. Jon L. Dunn, 2008, pp. 104-105.

Xeno-canto Bird songs, sound recordings, and species range map: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Accipiter-cooperii

Merlin Bird ID (great app available for Iphones) by The Cornell Lab (Bird ID help for 8,500+ species) https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

The Cornell Lab (Birds in U.S. and Canada) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ (enter common name)

Comprehensive Feather I.D. tools and more: https://foundfeathers.org/resources/

Found Feathers (Worldwide): https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/idtool.php