During which months do red-tailed hawks in California usually lay their eggs?

Red-tailed hawks in California typically lay their eggs during March and April. This timing aligns with their breeding season, which is influenced by longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures that occur in the spring. Laying eggs during this period allows the chicks to hatch in late April to early May, which is ideal as it coincides with an abundance of food availability and favorable weather conditions, critical for the survival of the young hawks. The timing in March and April ensures that the young will be adequately nourished and protected as they grow.

Other periods, such as February/March or April/May, do not accurately reflect the primary egg-laying months for these hawks in California, as February is typically too early for nesting activities to begin, and he April/May timeframe does not fully capture the initial laying phase that predominantly occurs in March. May/June would be too late for the first clutch, as nesting typically wraps up before that.