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Breeding Range. (Fig.42). Common in the Turtle Mountains and Pembina Hills; fairly common elsewhere on the Northeastern Drift Plain, on the Southern Drift Plain, and in the southern portion of the Missouri Coteau (within Stutsman, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, Dickey, and McIntosh Counties); uncommon (fairly common locally) in the Agassiz Lake Plain Region (most numerous along wooded valleys of tributaries of the Red River), on the Northwestern Drift Plain (most numerous along the wooded valley of the Mouse River in McHenry and Ward Counties), on the Coteau Slope (most numerous in wooded valleys along portions of the Missouri River and Yellowstone River), and on the Little Missouri Slope (most numerous in the wooded valleys and adjoining badlands along the Little Missouri River); uncommon and local in the central and northwestern portions of the Missouri Coteau and on the Missouri Slope.

During 1967-1969, 17 active nests were found in the Turtle Mountains by Calvin Cink.

Breeding Habitat. The Red-tailed Hawk is a wide-ranging edge species that is characteristic of habitat complexes that include tracts of mature woodland that are intermingled with or adjoin extensive expanses of native prairie or cropland. These situations commonly occur along the margins of forested tracts that are located on floodplains of major streams, near margins of permanent lakes, and on slopes and ravines of hills and escarpments. Agricultural areas that include established tree claims composed of large mature trees are also frequently occupied.

Nesting. Breeding season: Mid-April to late July; peak, early May to mid-July. Extreme egg dates (48 nests): April 19 [1928] in Walsh County (H. V. Williams) to June 11 [1972] in Stutsman County (D. J. Nilson). Extreme dates of nestlings (11 nests): June 23 [1966] in Stutsman County to July 22 [1968] in McHenry County (RES).

Nests were situated in large trees at heights (11 nests) ranging from 25 to 70 feet above the ground and averaging 45 feet. Thirteen nests were found in cottonwood (6), American elm (5), and bur oak (2).

Indicated clutch size (29 nests): 2 to 4 eggs; mean, 2.8 eggs.

Figure 42. Breeding Range of Red-tailed Hawk.