I am terribly biased, but I don’t think there is a more beautiful raptor than the adult Red Tailed Hawk. As they grow older, their eyes get darker brown…the plumage takes on some amazing tones, oranges and various shades of browns and tans…and then there’s that stunning red tail. Make note too that they are incredibly useful birds to have around the farm so to speak. They’ll eat a lot of rodents in their lives…as many raptors tend to do. There is no better form of “pest control”. It’s hard to believe that hawks were once considered vermin and often shot and killed as such. It’s even harder to imagine that this persecution still sometimes happens today although it’s no doubt been greatly reduced through federal protections and a change of perspective by many people.