Red tailed hawk's food?

Question

I'm doing homework for Biology about the foods Red tailed hawks eat. I haven't been able to find a specific kind of lizard that the hawks eat. I need a specific kind. If you know by any chance, help me out, won't you?

Answer 1

Well, in British Columbia, the Red-Tailed Hawk can prey on Northwestern Alligator Lizards. "During the summer, most Alligator Lizards can be found basking in sunny areas or soaking up heat under warm rocks. These lizards usually are found in groups; however, there is little interaction between individuals. They often share their habitat - at some cost - with two species of snake, the Common Garter Snake and Western Terrestrial (Wandering) Garter Snake. These snakes, as well as most other snake species, shrikes, Red-tailed Hawks, and house cats predate upon Northwestern Alligator Lizards." http://www.bcreptiles.ca/lizards/alligator.htm

However, lizards make up a very small portion of a Red-tailed hawk's diet.
"The Red-tailed Hawk is carnivorous, and an opportunistic feeder. Its diet is mainly composed of small mammals, but it also includes birds and reptiles. Prey varies with regional and seasonal availability, but usually includes cottontails, rodents, pheasants and quail. It may also prey on waterfowl, bats, shrews, snakes, lizards, crustaceans, insects, and when near the waters edge, carp and catfish. The Red-tailed Hawk hunts primarily from an elevated perch site. It will swoop down from a perch to seize prey, catching birds while flying, or pursuing prey on the ground from a low flight.

Prey taken can range in size from beetles to White-tailed Jackrabbits, which are double the weight of most Red-tails. In captivity in winter, an average redtail will eat about 135 g (4-5 oz) daily. The Great Horned Owl occupies a similar ecological niche nocturnally, taking similar prey. Competition may occur between the Red-tailed Hawk and the Great Horned Owl during twilight."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-tailed_Hawk#Diet

Answer 2

Red tails are not very picky about their food so any lizard is fair game. They take rabbits, snakes, lizards, birds (on the ground) and anything else that comes along that is approximately in the correct size. Generally red tails prefer game that is slightly larger than most lizards, however, their geographic region is so broad that it's diet probably significantly varies depending on the region and what prey is most abundant.

Answer 3

Red-tails actually eat more mammals and birds. It's the Red-shouldered Hawk that tends to be more of a reptile-eater; mainly snakes. Even then, most of the buteos (the broad-winged, fan-tailed hawks that include Red-tails) aren't terribly specific about what they eat, as far as I know. They'll take whatever they come across, if it's within their accepted range of prey types.

Answer 4

Red-tailed hawks are native only to the Nearctic region. They are found throughout the United States and Canada, and into Mexico and Central America.

With such a broad geographic area...there are (at least) dozens of different lizards...each native to different regions.
So, it really depends on which specific location you're considering.

Answer 5

Hawks when they are young will eat blue-tailed skinks and even green anoles in NC, U.S. But as they get older they prefer small mammals, other birds, and snakes. They might would eat bigger lizards if they were around(like the ones inFL) but those types of lizards dont live many places.

Answer 6

hawk nuggets. popcorn hawk hawk egg salad