The largest of our soaring hawks, the Red-tailed Hawk is often seen sailing smoothly overhead, wheeling and turning in the rising currents of air with scarcely a flap of the wings.  These powerful predators feed mainly on rats, mice, rabbits and other small mammals, as well as snakes, insects, and a few birds.  They prefer to hunt over open country, perching or soaring overhead until prey is spotted below.  Because of their long, broad wings, Red-tails are not particularly agile, and do not hunt well in dense wooded areas, but they are able to swoop down and seize their prey with massive and powerful talons.