Bird Gallery Index

White-tailed Hawk image © Helen Baines. Photo taken at the Attwater Prairie-Chicken National Wildlife Refuge.

Family:  (Accipitridae) Hawks and Allies

Preferred Habitat:  Coastal prairies

Seasonal Occurrence:  Uncommon permanent resident. Nests in our area.

Notes:   The White-tailed Hawk is at the northern limit of its range on the Upper Texas Coast. In flight, its short white tail with broad black terminal band is quite obvious. But when perched, its long wings may partially obscure the tail. The White-tailed Hawk is often seen perched on a telephone pole. It makes its nest in a small tree, bush or cactus. Rabbits are its primary prey, but it also feasts on insects, lizards and other rodents.
- Susan Billetdeaux