Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
- IdentificationVisual tips about this species
- BehaviourHabitat, behaviour, and food
- PopulationSubspecies and numbers
- ReproductionNesting and eggs
Identification
The Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized, long-tailed Buteo, with distinctly rounded wing tips. The adult is brown above, with rufous shoulders and extensive black and white spotting on its wings and back. Seen from below, the bird in flight shows a rufous body and wing coverts, black and white barring on the tail and flight feathers, and a diagnostic pale crescent at the base of its primaries. There are several different races of this species. The one that occurs in south Florida is paler, those in California and Texas are more rufous below, and the race that is widespread in the east has dark streaks on its chest. There is also a wide variation in the plumage of juveniles of the various races, but they are all browner than the adult, have mottled patterns on their upperparts, heavily streaked underparts and show banded tails. They possess a degree of similarity to juvenile Broad-winged Hawks, but Red-shouldered Hawk can be identified through a combination of rounded wings, long tail, presence of pale crescent-shape at the base of the primaries, rufous underwing coverts, distinctly checkered flight feathers, evenly thick bars throughout the tail, and the lack of a defined black trailing edge to the underwing.
Voice
A shrill ‘kee-aaaar’ that it screams incessantly when alarmed.
Length
17in
Migration
Migratory only in the northern part of its range. In that narrow band, spring migration is in February and March. Fall movement occurs during October and November.
Habitat
Breeds in forested streamsides, swamps and wet bottomlands.
Food
Small mammals, birds, snakes, frogs, fish and insects.
Population trends
The population is slowly increasing in the western part of its range, decreasing in the upper Midwest, and holding steady in other areas.
Where in US
Breeds throughout the eastern United States and the western regions of California. In the winter it withdraws from the northern tier of states, but is a year-round resident in the remainder of its range.
Nests
Usually placed in the crotch of a large deciduous tree. Old nests of squirrels or large birds may be used as a base. The nest is a large platform of sticks, lined with leaves, stems, bark and moss. Leafy sprigs are added during the nesting season.
Eggs
2-4, rarely 5, white or buffy-white, blotched, spotted and speckled with brown. Single-brooded.
Powered by