The red-shouldered hawk is a medium-sized hawk found in eastern North America. With its striking reddish-brown shoulders and barred underparts, the red-shouldered hawk is a distinctive bird of prey. But with several similar species of hawks and an extensive range, identification can sometimes be tricky. Here is a guide to confidently identifying a red-shouldered hawk in the field.
Distinctive Markings
The key identifying feature of the red-shouldered hawk is the reddish-brown shoulder patches or “epaulets” that give this species its name. When perched, the reddish shoulders are obvious at close range. In flight, look for translucent crescents in the wings formed by the reddish-brown underwing coverts. These reddish wing crescents are unique to the red-shouldered hawk.
Other distinctive markings include:
- Barred underparts – narrow whitish bars on the breast, belly, and flanks
- Bold black and white barring on the tail
- Pale crescents near the wingtips when in flight
- Yellow cere (fleshy area above the beak)
- Red eyes
Size and Shape
The red-shouldered hawk is a medium-sized raptor, though it is on the small end of the “medium” spectrum:
- Length: 15-19 inches
- Wingspan: 37-42 inches
- Weight: 1.1 pounds average
The red-shouldered has a slender, long-tailed profile both perched and in flight. The wings are fairly broad but pointed at the tips. The head is small and flat compared to bulky buteo hawks.
Voice
The red-shouldered hawk’s most distinctive vocalization is a clear, whistled kee-yer often repeated. This call carries well through wooded habitats. Other calls include a rapid kak-kak-kak and a horse-like whinny descending in pitch.
Habitat
Red-shouldered hawks inhabit moist woodlands, especially floodplain forests. They are often found near marshes, swamps, and other wetlands. Typical habitat includes:
- Bottomland forests
- Floodplain woodlands
- Swamps
- Forested wetlands
In the western United States, red-shouldered hawks occupy similar riparian woodlands with a cottonwood overstory. They avoid open habitats like grasslands, meadows, and row crop agriculture.
Range
Red-shouldered hawks reside year-round throughout the eastern half of the United States. Their breeding range extends from southern Canada south to the Gulf Coast and northeastern Mexico. Parts of the southeastern U.S. host the largest populations. In winter, most red-shouldered hawks withdraw from the northern portions of the Midwest and Northeast.
| Region | Breeding Range | Winter Range |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | Southern Maine to Pennsylvania | New Jersey southward |
| Midwest | Minnesota to Louisiana | Illinois and Missouri southward |
| Southeast | North Carolina to Texas | All year |
| West | California and pockets of the Southwest | All year |
Isolated populations of red-shouldered hawks also reside in river bottomlands of California, New Mexico, and parts of Texas outside the main range.
Behavior and Diet
Red-shouldered hawks are adept woodland hunters that take a variety of prey, including:
- Small mammals – mice, voles, rabbits, squirrels, etc.
- Reptiles and amphibians – snakes, lizards, frogs
- Small birds
- Crayfish
- Insects
They hunt from perches while scanning for prey moving beneath the forest canopy. Short pursuit flights through the woods are common. Pairs may hunt cooperatively with one hawk flushing prey towards its mate. Red-shoulders also snatch food from the ground while walking or make short stoops from a perch. They mainly eat smaller prey than larger hawks like red-tails.
Nesting
Red-shouldered hawks build a stick nest high in a tree crotch, often in wet woodlands. The same nest may be reused and expanded year after year. 2-4 eggs are laid in spring with both parents helping incubation duties. After a month-long nestling period, the young fledge and rely on their parents for several more weeks.
Similar Species
The red-shouldered hawk shares parts of its range with several similar woodland hawks. Key identification points for each species:
Broad-winged Hawk
- Smaller and stockier profile
- No visible leg feathers at rest
- Darker head contrasts with paler breast
- High-pitched pee-pee-pee call
Red-tailed Hawk
- Larger and bulkier
- Pale belly band
- Broad, fan-shaped rufous tail
- Familiar kee-eee-arrr call
Cooper’s Hawk
- More slender, crow-sized profile
- Long banded tail
- Red eyes (juveniles) or pale yellow eyes (adults)
- Fast chops through dense cover
Northern Goshawk
- Much larger size
- Bold white eyebrow
- Long broad tail with pale bands
- Intimidating aggressive behavior
Conclusion
With its rich reddish shoulders, barred underparts, whistled calls, affinity for wet woodlands, and medium build, an encountered red-shouldered hawk can be confidently identified by paying attention to these field marks. Comparison with similar species in overlap zones will help seal the ID. Red-shouldered hawks are making a welcome resurgence across parts of their range, so patient observers may be rewarded with sightings of this handsome woodland raptor.
