# There are no Red Hawks. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405 "2009-07-09T03:22:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/1 "2009-07-09T03:22:23Z")
There are plenty of Red-tail Hawks where I come from, and there are Red-shoulder Hawks and a couple more with some red feathers on other parts of their bodies, but I’m not aware of _any_ Red Hawks. There’s no bird that bears that name. So why are there so many business’ and products (a Ruger revolver, for one) with that name? I know the name has significance in American Indian culture. Did there used to be a mostly red hawk? In all the Red-(whatever) hawks, the red portion is a tiny part of the bird’s body. Is the bird an American Indian myth that’s gained popularity in our non-native culture? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/2 "2009-07-09T03:37:12Z")
No, it’s just so you can tell one breed from another. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/3 "2009-07-09T03:53:16Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > No, it’s just so you can tell one breed from another. I don’t unerstand that answer. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/4 "2009-07-09T03:55:34Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > So why are there so many business’ and products (a Ruger revolver, for one) with that name? It sounds cool. > [@](#): > > I know the name has significance in American Indian culture. What is it, exactly? And for which groups? > [@](#): > > Did there used to be a mostly red hawk? Not in North America. > [@](#): > > Is the bird an American Indian myth that’s gained popularity in our non-native culture? Not that I am aware of, at least any more than “black hawk.” ---
**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/5 "2009-07-09T13:17:16Z")
Red Hawk is indeed my own tribal name. It is a hereditary name in my case. I have never seen a thoroughly red hawk, of course, but several sorts appear to be predominantly reddish or rust colored in the proper light. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/6 "2009-07-09T14:16:11Z")
> [@CateAyo](#): > > Red Hawk is indeed my own tribal name. It is a hereditary name in my case. I have never seen a thoroughly red hawk, of course, but several sorts appear to be predominantly reddish or rust colored in the proper light. That’s as I suspected. Us humans tend to romanticize (in a good way) that which we see in nature. BTW; **CateAyo** , is that the Miwok tribe? They run the Redhawk Casino near here. I don’t gamble, but I hear it’s an excellent operation. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/7 "2009-07-09T14:35:20Z")
Red Hawk was also the name of an Ogalala Sioux warrior photographed by [Edward Curtis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_S._Curtis), most famously in this one: [http://www.fluryco.com/galleries/pl18.htm](http://www.fluryco.com/galleries/pl18.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/8 "2009-07-09T14:53:27Z")
The most generally reddish North American raptor is the [Ferruginous Hawk](http://whatbird.wildbird.com/img/4/1538/image.aspx?x=322), the largest Buteo in the US, which is fairly common on the Great Plains. It is the most likely species to be referred to as a “red hawk.” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/9 "2009-07-09T15:58:47Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The most generally reddish North American raptor is the [Ferruginous Hawk](http://whatbird.wildbird.com/img/4/1538/image.aspx?x=322), the largest Buteo in the US, which is fairly common on the Great Plains. It is the most likely species to be referred to as a “red hawk.” Ferruginous means “rusty”, sort of, so that makes sense. He does look largely red in that picture. Pretty bird, imo. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/10 "2009-07-10T00:04:06Z")
The Miwok people and Ferruginous Hawks share historical range in Northern California, so that fits too. I shall no longer criticize the name of the [Red Hawk](http://www.redhawkcasino.com/) casino here in Northern California. In fact, I may go there and catch one of their music acts and get a bite to eat. But not to gamble. I feel somehow liberated. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/11 "2009-07-10T14:58:29Z")
It’s not unusual for the common name of a creature to be inaccurate. As a quick example, the_red winged blackbird_ has only a small patch of red on its wings. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/12 "2009-07-10T15:07:40Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > I shall no longer criticize the name of the [Red Hawk](http://www.redhawkcasino.com/) casino here in Northern California. There are also the RedHawks of Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. The name may not be ornithologically perfect, but it is certainly a vast improvement over the previous Redskins. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/13 "2009-07-10T15:13:29Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > It’s not unusual for the common name of a creature to be inaccurate. As a quick example, the_red winged blackbird_ has only a small patch of red on its wings. Those guys (the gals are brown ;)) were pretty common when I was younger, but I haven’t seen any in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/14 "2009-07-10T15:51:15Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > It’s not unusual for the common name of a creature to be inaccurate. As a quick example, the_red winged blackbird_ has only a small patch of red on its wings. And the white eyed conure does not have white eyes! [White eyed conure](http://www.avianweb.com/whiteeyedconure.html) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/15 "2009-07-10T15:54:35Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > And the white eyed conure does not have white eyes! > [White eyed conure](http://www.avianweb.com/whiteeyedconure.html) Well, if you want to get _technical_ about it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/16 "2009-07-10T16:45:08Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > That’s as I suspected. Us humans tend to romanticize (in a good way) that which we see in nature. > BTW; **CateAyo** , is that the Miwok tribe? They run the Redhawk Casino near here. I don’t gamble, but I hear it’s an excellent operation. No, not Miwok. I am Creek, or more accurately Mvskoke or Muscogee. We are originally from Georgia and Alabama. Red Hawk is translated as Cate (Jah tee) meaning red, and Ayo (ah yo) meaning hawk. ---
**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-no-red-hawks/502405/17 "2009-07-10T16:47:31Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > There are also the RedHawks of Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. The name may not be ornithologically perfect, but it is certainly a vast improvement over the previous Redskins. I would agree that it is a substantial improvement. Now if we could only get the folks in Washington to share the sentiment.