Bird
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
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.
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Red-tailed Hawk
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...
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...
Apr
20
1806
Lewis: April 20, 1806
...rning I was informed that the natives had pilfered six tommahawks
and a knife from the party in the course of the last night. I spoke to the
cheif on this subject...
Apr
22
1806
Clark: April 22, 1806
... a hors for which he gave a red
rapper, Shirt, ploom & Tomahawk &c. the party purchased a great
quantity of Chapellell and Some berries for which they gave bits o...
Apr
24
1806
Clark: April 24, 1806
...McNeals which I hired an Indian to
find and gave him a Tomahawk had 4 pack Saddles made ready to pack the
horses which we may purchase. we purchased 3 horses, and...
Apr
24
1806
Lewis: April 24, 1806
...one of the canoes and split of a small peice with
his tommahawk, they discovered us determined on this subject and offered
us several strands of beads for each wh...
May
5
1806
Clark: May 5, 1806
... him
and Struck him in the breast and face, Seazed his tomahawk, and Shewed him
by Sign that if he repeeted his insolence that he would tomahawk him, the
fellow ...
May
13
1806
Lewis: May 13, 1806
...
to obtain articles of utility, such as knives, axes, tommahawks, kettles
blankets and mockerson alls. blue beads however may form an exception to
this remark; t...
May
18
1806
Clark: May 18, 1806
...yer and LaPage returned haveing
killed nothing but a large hawk they had hunted in the point between the
Kooskooske and Collins's Creek and Saw but little Sign of...
May
18
1806
Lewis: May 18, 1806
... returned having been also
unsuccessfull they had killed a hawk only and taken the part of a salmon
from an Eagle, the latter altho it was of itself not valuable ...
Jun
1
1806
Clark: June 1, 1806
...r
accompanied by Hohastillpilp Set out in Serch of two tomahawks of ours
which we have understood were in the possession of certain indians
resideing at a distan...
Jun
1
1806
Lewis: June 1, 1806
...r
accompanyed by Hohastillpilp set out in surch of two tomahawks of ours
which we have understood were in the possession of certain indians
residing at a distanc...
Jun
2
1806
Lewis: June 2, 1806
...companyed him to the lodges
of the persons who had our tomahawks. he obtained both the tomahawks
principally by the influence of the former of these Cheifs. the o...
Jun
2
1806
Clark: June 2, 1806
... accompanied him to the lodge of the person who had our tomahawks. he
obtained both the tomahawks principally by the influence of the former of
those Chiefs. the ...
Jun
8
1806
Clark: June 8, 1806
...e Seen; one of those men brought a horse which I gave a tomahawk
which I had exchanged for with the Chief of the Clahclahlah's Nation below
the Great rapids of Co...
