Bird

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis
Bird Along the Missouri River, Great Plains New to Western Science
Red-tailed Hawk

Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Common Names
Hen Hawk, Chicken Hawk
Habitat
Open plains, woodlands, and river valleys throughout the expedition route
First Observed
1804-07-20
Observed At
Along the Missouri River, Great Plains

Hawks were among the most frequently mentioned raptors in the expedition journals, observed soaring over the plains and river valleys daily. While Lewis and Clark used the general term “hawks” without always specifying species, the red-tailed hawk was certainly the most common buteo along the route. They were often noted alongside eagles, ravens, and other birds of prey.

Recent sightings

Where it’s being seen today

27 research-grade iNaturalist observations between 2011–2026. Most recent: 2026-03-01. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.

Journal References

15 journal entries mention Red-tailed Hawk

Jul 29 1804
Near Platte River, Council Bluffs area — John Ordway: July 29, 1804
...t to us. Willard sent back to last nights camp for his Tommahawk which he left we Delayed about 2 hours, caught Several of the largest cat fish we have ever caught ...
Mar 17 1805
Fort Mandan, preparing for departure — John Ordway: March 17, 1805
...Fort, the wind high from the West. Warner has lost his Tommahawk, ex- pect the Indians Stole it.
Jun 25 1805
Great Falls Portage — John Ordway: June 25, 1805
...t his watch, lost the large Compass, an elegant purse, tommahawk, an Humbrello [umbrella] Shot pouch & horn with powder and ball mockinsons and the woman lost hir c...
Aug 17 1805
John Ordway: August 17, 1805
...little art articles they have, but they have no knives tommahawks nor no weapons of war except their bow & arrows, it is only by their ace* 8 day travel to the Sout...
Sep 7 1805
Lost Trail Pass, meeting Flathead Salish at Ross's Hole — John Ordway: September 7, 1805
... the hunters killed 1 goose 1 crain Several pheasants and a hawk, we proceeded on crossed Several Small creeks and runs1 we had Several Showers of rain, this valley...
Oct 8 1805
Clearwater to Snake River — John Ordway: October 8, 1805
...of the baggage Safe to Shore, a fiew articles lost one tommahawk and a fiew light things, we put the baggage out and Camped on the Stard Side 1 Coues locates the ca...
Oct 12 1805
Snake River rapids, near Lewiston — Patrick Gass: October 12, 1805
... could discover; and we saw no birds of any kind, but a few hawks, eagles and crows. At noon we halted, cooked and eat some fish and then proceeded on. The country ...
Oct 14 1805
Snake River rapids, near Lewiston — John Ordway: October 14, 1805
...most of the baggage to Shore two mens bedding lost one tommahawk, and some other Small articles a Small copper kittle &C. we Camped on an Island Stard Side at an ol...
Nov 4 1805
Columbia River tidewater, approaching estuary — John Ordway: November 4, 1805
...ds of Savages fol- lowed us and Stole Cap1 Clarks pipe tommahawk which he had been Smoaking with them, we could not find it with them, they had several muskets on b...
Nov 18 1805
Patrick Gass: November 18, 1805
...ng our hunters came in with a deer, 2 brants, a squirrel, a hawk, and a flounder, which the tide had thrown on a sand-bar. The Indians still remained with us and Ca...
Mar 3 1806
Clark: March 3, 1806
...ght and very ferce. Sometimes called in the Un. States the hen Hawk. those birds Seam to be common to every part of this Country in greater or smaller numbers, and th...
Mar 3 1806
Lewis: March 3, 1806
...light and very firce. sometimes called in the U States the hen hawk. these birds seem to be common to every part of this country, and the hawks crows & ravens build t...
Apr 9 1806
Portaging Cascades of the Columbia upstream — John Ordway: April 9, 1806
...here we bought 5 or 6 fat dogs, found Cap* Clarks pipe tommahawk which was stole from him last fall, below Quick Sand River, we took it from them, they signd that t...
Apr 20 1806
Overland to Walla Walla, council with Yelleppit — Patrick Gass: April 20, 1806
...ve an opportunity. With all our care they stole 4 or § tomahawks.
Apr 21 1806
Overland to Walla Walla, council with Yelleppit — John Ordway: April 21, 1806
... dians are verry troublesome to us have stole 5 or 6 tomma- hawks Iron Spoons &.C. &C.2 we loaded our horses 9 in number. 4 men took 2 small canoes by water, we set...

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