The red-tailed hawk is the most common of all hawks and the most widespread buteo in North America. But it can still give birders identification challenges.

While most birders look for the distinctive red tail from which it derives its name, there are many morphs and subspecies, particularly in the Western United States. Not all of these display the classic red tail. Subspecies such as the Krider's, Harlan's, southwestern and eastern all present variations in plumage characteristics.

Hawks From Every Angle and Hawks at a Distance, by Salt Lake City author Jerry Liguori, is a great book to help understand the differences. It shows the definitive identification marks and methods to view these magnificent raptors in flight. It is a must-have book for those who want to become better at identifying raptors.

This image of a Harlan's red-tailed hawk was taken near Lehi by Tim Avery, an expert field birder and author of utahbirders.blogspot.com.

One of the key identification marks is the dark leading edge of the wing, called the patagium. These marks on the underwing are found only on the red-tailed hawk.

Perched red-tails show a white belly with a broad band of dark feathers across the lower chest. They are very large with a wing span up to 58 inches and 25 inches tall. The bill is large, hooked with a yellow cere.

Red-tails hunt mammals. They are often seen perching on telephone poles or in trees where they can watch open fields. Kiting in the wind, particularly along hillsides, is another common hunting technique of the red-tail. Red-tails are present in Utah throughout the year.

By Bill Fenimore, author of Backyard Birds of Utah, owner of the Wild Bird Center in Layton and member of the Utah Wildlife Board.