The Red-shouldered Hawk

The Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium to large hawk measuring 15 to 19 inches in length and a wingspan of 3 to 3 ½ feet. Adults have a brown head and a red tinted chest. Their belly is pale in color with reddish bars.

The wings are tail are distinctive. The wings are long and dark with visible barring. Compared to other hawks of similar size, the tail is quit long and the narrow white bars are clearly visible. The reddish shoulder patches that the bird is named for are easily seen when the bird is sitting on a perch.

The female is slightly larger than the male but carries similar markings. The juveniles are often mistaken for Broad-winged Hawks.

The Red-shouldered Hawk can be seen throughout the eastern United States and along the coast of California and northern Mexico. Birds residing in the northern area of the range will migrate but most are year-round residents within their domain. They inhabit dense woodlands preferring swampy lowlands near streams and rivers.

The Red-shouldered Hawk is extremely vocal during the early stages of courtship. The male will circle its territory uttering a loud whistling scream. Once the breeding season starts in earnest, they are rarely heard.

As with most hawks, the Red-shouldered Hawk make their nests of sticks. They usually nest in the same area but build a new nest every year. They may go back a refurbish a nest that was used several years before but do not use the same nest from year to year. Their nests are built in the trees but rather than toward the top of the trees, they build them half way up. They also line the nest with greenery, something most hawks rarely do.

The female lays two to four eggs. The eggs are incubated for about 33 days and the job is shared by both the male and female. The young fledge around six weeks of age and start breeding at two years of age.

The Red-shouldered Hawk hunts from a perch. It will sit quietly until prey wanders into its line of sight. Once the prey is spotted, it drops down and snatches it. The Red-shouldered Hawk feeds on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects.

Red-shouldered Hawk emits a high, shrill scream,kee-yeeear, kee-yeeear, kee-yeeear. It is often heard during the breeding season.

Due to the loss of habitat, the Red-shouldered Hawk's numbers have declined but the current populations appear to be stable. As with all the birds dependent on old growth forests, their numbers need to be monitored. It doesn't take much to tip the balance. We've lost enough birds and don't need to lose anymore.