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Platte River Status: A common permanent resident especially in the eastern half of the study area. Tout (1947) recorded red-tailed hawk only as a migrant and winter resident in Lincoln County. Rosche (1979) reported that red-tailed hawk was a permanent resident and nesting species in the lower North Platte River Valley. Short (1961) observed that red-tailed hawk was widely distributed across the study area in 1955-1957.

Breeding Range: A fairly common nesting species in the Platte River Valley west to Keith County, and on the Eastern Plain. Uncommon and local on the Western Plain, Dissected Plain, and on the Sandhills. Breeding Population: We failed to record red-tailed hawk on our random census plots in 1979-1980. We believe that the breeding population probably totals about 350 breeding pairs annually.

Habitat: Red-tailed hawk is characteristic of edge habitats, especially the margins of wooded areas adjacent to native grasslands, hayland or wet meadows. Most of the nests we have found were placed in isolated cottonwood trees, or in vegetation associated with shelterbelts. Faanes (1982) found red-tailed hawk nesting at the ecotone between native prairie and shelterbelts in central North Dakota. On a northeastern North Dakota study area, nesting red-tailed hawks were most numerous in open bur oak-green ash forest (Faanes and Andrew 1983).

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Red-tailed hawk has benefited positively from the encroachment of wooded vegetation within the channel of the Platte River, and also from establishment of shelterbelts in areas formerly supporting native grasslands.

Nesting Data: We have found 15 active nests in the study area during 24 February to mid June. A nest located 17 March 1979 contained 2 downy young in mid April. Another nest was found containing 2 eggs on 28 March 1979. Peak egg laying appears to be during mid March. Benckeser (1956) reported a nest with 3 young, 0.6 km west of the Windlass Hill marker near Ash Hollow, Garden County, on 12 June 1956. Stewart (1975) reported that extreme egg dates in North Dakota extend from 19 April to 11 June, with nestlings present 23 June to 22 July. Egg dates in Kansas are from 21 February to 11 April, with peak egg laying about 5 March (Johnsgard 1979).