Alaska red-tailed hawk
The Alaska red-tailed hawk is a subspecies of red-tailed hawk that breeds from southeastern coastal Alaska to Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Despite its northerly distribution, this is the second smallest of the red-tailed hawks. Only the Jamaican red-tailed hawk is smaller. Little is known about this subspecies compared to other subspecies of red-tailed hawk.
Taxonomy and Systematics
The alaska red-tailed hawk was described by Joseph Grinnell in 1909 as "always blackest dorsally, and decidedly smaller" than a "large series" of the western red-tailed hawk. B. j. alascensis and B. j. calurus were previously considered to be the same subspecies.Etymology and Taxonomy
The red-tailed hawk was described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788 as Falco jamaicensis. The name "jamaicensis" means "originating in Jamaica", referring to where the original specimen was found. Later, this hawk was placed in the genus Buteo, introduced by Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799. "Buteo" means "buzzard" in Latin. The subspecies B. j. alascensis is named after its main distribution in Alaska, with the suffix "-ensis" indicating origin.Subspecies status and evidence
The alaska red-tailed hawk is one of 14 recognized subspecies of red-tailed hawk. It is understudied in comparison to other red-tail hawk subspecies and morphologically similar to other subspecies, B. j. calurus. Taverner notes "they can be described as small calurus". Evidence for B. j. alascensis being distinct from B.j. calurus is less accurate than other subspecies belonging to Buteo jamaicensis.Description
Size
The largest females from this subspecies are smaller than almost all male red-tailed hawks from other subspecies in Canada. In wing chord, males range from, averaging, and females range from, averaging. Males and females average in tail length, in tarsal length and in culmen length.Colouration
This race is darker than the pale morph of the western red-tailed hawk, nearly solidly dark brown above with almost no pale mottling on the scapulars. The breast is slightly rufous with dark arrowheads rather than streaking around the belly, meanwhile the rest of the underside down to the "trousers" is paler and more washed out than on B. j. calurus. Immatures of this race are usually blackish brown overall with a white throat and wide tail bands, rather unlike B. j. calurus. However, it can be challenging to distinguish juvenile North American buteos.Identification
While the alaska and western red-tail hawk are not easy to tell apart, the main identifier is that the alaska subspecies is a smaller bird. Adult calurus wings measure over 368mm, while adult alascensis wings measure 368mm and under. B. j. alascensis is also said to have a rosy pink breast in comparison.Distribution
Range and Habitat
The range of alascensis spans coastal British Columbia including Haida Gwaii and western Vancouver Island all the way up to southeast Alaska. This bird inhabits the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest.Migration
Red-tailed hawks are partial migrants, exhibiting varying degrees of migration correlating to latitude. Subspecies occupying the northern third of their distribution are almost fully migratory, whereas many southern populations are fully sedentary. Despite their more northern distribution, red-tailed hawks present in the coastal north, such as the Pacific Northwest and southern Alaska, have been found not to participate in migration which would include the alaska red-tailed hawk.Behaviour
These hawks are diurnal birds, meaning they are most active during the day and inactive or asleep at night.Flight
Soaring is the most common method of flight for members of the red-tailed hawk species as it conserves the most energy.Reproduction and Courtship
Specific reproductive traits of the alaska red-tailed hawk subspecies are unknown however birds in the genus Buteo are typical in their breeding behaviours. Their courtship rituals involve soaring in large circles high in the sky, with the male performing dives. Red-tailed hawks are monogamous and will mate with the same individual until one dies.Hunting strategies
Like many Buteos, members of the red-tailed hawk species hunt from a perch. Though North American red-tailed hawks can hunt from flight, it is generally uncommon.Vocalizations
These are vocalizations common to red-tailed hawks as a species. There is likely variance within subspecies such as the alaska red-tailed hawk.| Age | Sound | Reason | Source |
| Young nestling | pipsee | presence of parent or disturbance | |
| Juvenile | klee-uk | hunger call | |
| Adult | kee-eee-arr | irritation or defense response |