We examined use and avoidance of specific habitat types by Red-tailed Hawks
(Buleo jamaicensis) during the winter in Arkansas. We conducted biweekly r
oad surveys to determine the relative number of hawks present throughout th
e winter season and to record which habitat types hawks used for hunting pu
rposes. Available cover types were used significantly (P< 0.05) out of prop
ortion to their availability. A total of 55.6% of Red-tailed Hawks used ric
e fields, which made up 49.3% of the available habitat. Additionally 12.1%
of Red-tailed Hawks were in forest patches that comprised only 0.9% of our
study area. Hawk numbers were less than expected in soybean fields with onl
y 26.5% of red-tails observed in 39% of the available habitat. Likewise, 5.
8% of Red-tailed Hawks were in wheat fields that made up 10.8% of the habit
at available. Juveniles and adults were not observed to use the various cov
er types differently (chi(2) = 2.221, P = 0.528). Numbers of Red-tailed Haw
ks over the winter season were significantly correlated with rodent numbers
(r = 0.618, P = 0.05). Our results suggested that Red-tailed Hawks were bo
th spatially and temporally affected by variations in rodent abundance duri
ng the winter in the Delta region of Arkansas.