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Monster Red-tail!

posted by Jerry Liguori at
on Sunday, December 1, 2013 

Speaking of Red-tailed Hawks…most Red-tails range between 850-1200 gms, with petite ones around 750 gms, and larger ones about 1350 gms. Check out this young Eastern Red-tail caught in November 1995 (or 1996?) at Cape May Point, NJ. It weighed 1740 gms (3.8 lbs) !!!!!!  The bird in these pictures was massive, look at that chest, back, and feet! And, it did not have any food in the crop, as that can give it a false weight. This bird is heavier than almost all of the Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks I have caught.

So, my question is, does anyone know of a larger Red-tail on record? I would love to hear about it, and await any responses. And if not, what is the largest Red-tail you have heard of? Thanks to Kara Donohue for holding this bird and letting me see it (I'm sure she was the one to catch it too).

12 Comments:
Anonymous Derek Lyon said...

Quite the chunky bird. I've seen big RTs, but not like this.

December 1, 2013 at 12:32 PM  
Anonymous C. Jones said...

That thing is massive!!!!!

December 1, 2013 at 8:26 PM  
Blogger mike said...

The heaviest I remember was about 1550. Also a juve. Can't fathom 1700 grams.

December 2, 2013 at 9:40 PM  
Blogger Jerry Liguori said...

Hi Mike

Wow, 1550 is huge! I think a friend of mine may have caught one over 1700 gms but I need to ask him...can't remember for sure

December 2, 2013 at 9:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is a massive Red-tail !! Got me thinking I was wrong about, Frank's, at Braddock...
Pete Gustas

December 3, 2013 at 6:03 AM  
Blogger Jerry Liguori said...

Maybe you were right, ask Frank, I'd love to know! I'll ask him

December 3, 2013 at 7:11 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Al Hinde might have some records of larger ones from his Great Basin road trapping trips. I seem to remember lots of big Ferruginous, RLs and RTs from his slideshows.

December 3, 2013 at 1:59 PM  
Blogger Jerry Liguori said...

Thanks Zach, I'll contact Al....

December 3, 2013 at 3:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Man, I remember that bird! What a giant.

Jamie C.

December 4, 2013 at 5:35 PM  
Blogger Jerry Liguori said...

Of course you were! Maybe you caught it?

Can you email me, I can't find your email address?

December 4, 2013 at 7:10 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Definitely a big redtail. To assess it's size better though I'd need to feel it's keel to see how fat it is. I've trapped quite a few redtails over the years. I trapped one juvi over 1900 grams once but it was hog fat and living near a pheasant farm with lots of available food though none in it's crop. Typically though juvi's over 1700 grams in Wisconsin are very few and far between and perhaps 1 out of 100 from my experience.

May 21, 2014 at 5:26 PM  
Blogger Jerry Liguori said...

Thanks for the comment Dave....good luck with all your trapping, I'd love to see some of your in-hand pics!

May 21, 2014 at 5:38 PM  

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