The Red-shouldered Hawk hunts in wooded wetlands and streamside woods across much of the eastern United States and along the Pacific coast. Adults have checkered wings and a banded tail, with pale crescents near the wingtips in flight. Its rising, repeated whistle is often heard before the bird is seen.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Adults are 17–24 in (43–61 cm) long, with a banded tail and checkered wings. Eastern adults have reddish barring below, while California adults have a mostly solid orange chest; juveniles are browner and streaked below.
- Voice
- Its rising, repeated whistle is often heard before the bird is seen.
Look-alikes
The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is bulkier and usually shows a dark belly band; adults often have a reddish upper tail. An adult Red-shouldered Hawk has rusty barring across the chest and several narrow white tail bands.
The Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) looks stockier and has broader tail bands. A flying Red-shouldered Hawk shows checkered wings and pale crescents near the wingtips.
| Build | Underparts | Flight clue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Slim, longer tail | Rusty barring in the East; orange in California | Pale crescents near wingtips |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Larger and bulkier | Often a dark belly band | Adults often show a red upper tail |
| Broad-winged Hawk | Stockier | Usually paler below | Broader tail bands |
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Wooded wetlands
- Streamside woods
- Wooded suburbs
- Range
- It occurs across much of the eastern United States and separately along the Pacific coast, especially California.
- Preferred conditions
- Eastern birds use wet hardwood woods; western birds also use oak and streamside woods.
- When it’s recorded
Recorded year-round, every year
93,152 observations in the US · 10 years · for reference
Behavior
- Diet
- It hunts small mammals, frogs, snakes, and lizards from a perch near woods or water.
Life cycle
- Nest
- A pair builds or repairs a stick nest in a large tree, often near water.
- Clutch size
- 2–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 32–40 days
Name and classification
- About the name
- California Red-shouldered Hawks (B. l. elegans) have a richer orange chest; Florida Red-shouldered Hawks (B. l. extimus) are paler. Both are named of this hawk.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
- Threats
- Clearing wooded habitat removes places to hunt and nest.