Telling a red shouldered hawk apart from a broad-winged hawk can be tricky for birders. Both are medium-sized raptors with stocky bodies and broad wings. However, there are some key differences in size, shape, markings, habitat, and behavior that can help identify these two common North American hawks.
Size Differences
Red shouldered hawks are noticeably larger than broad-winged hawks. Red shouldered hawks have a length of 15-19 inches, a wingspan of 37-44 inches, and weigh 1.1-1.9 pounds. Broad-winged hawks measure 13-17 inches long, have a wingspan of 29-35 inches, and weigh just 0.5-1.1 pounds.
In flight, the larger red shouldered will have broader wings that appear long at the base where they attach to the body. Broad-winged hawks have shorter, more rounded wings in proportion to their body size.
Shape Differences
The bodies and heads of these two hawks also differ in shape:
- Red shouldered hawks have a chunky, stocky body shape.
- Broad-winged hawks have a more slender, elongated body profile.
- Red shouldereds have a larger, blocky head.
- Broad-winged hawks have a petite head that appears small for the body size.
The chunky versus slender body shapes are another clue besides size that can help distinguish these two species when viewing them at a distance.
Markings and Coloration
Adult red shouldered hawks and broad-winged hawks both have brownish upperparts and pale underparts with reddish barring. However, the reddish color on the chest and belly is much more extensive on the red shouldered hawk. The red shouldered also has distinctive black and white bars on a long tail, while the broad-winged has a shorter tail with narrower barring.
Some key identification points for markings and color patterns:
- Red shouldered hawks have bright reddish-orange shoulders and wing linings.
- Broad-winged hawks lack the bright reddish shoulders and have grayish wing linings.
- Red shouldereds have a strongly barred black and white tail.
- Broad-wingeds have a narrowly barred gray and white tail.
- Red shouldereds have rich reddish barring on the belly.
- Broad-wingeds have sparse light barring on a white belly.
When seen up close, these differences in markings can reliably separate the two species.
Habitat Preferences
Red shouldered hawks and broad-winged hawks also differ in their typical habitats:
- Red shouldered hawks favor wetland environments like swamps, marshes, and river forests.
- Broad-winged hawks prefer drier upland forests and mixed woods near openings.
So a hawk seen soaring over a wetland is much more likely to be a red shouldered, while a hawk spotted near open fields adjacent to deciduous woods is probably a broad-winged.
Behavioral Differences
Observing how a hawk flies and hunts can provide more clues to its identity:
- Red shouldered hawks often soar in circles on flattened wings.
- Broad-winged hawks have an erratic flight pattern with quick wingbeats.
- Red shouldereds perch quite openly, often on low snags.
- Broad-wingeds perch more secretively in dense foliage.
- Red shouldereds are loud and vocal, with a piercing “kee-ah” call.
- Broad-wingeds are quieter with high-pitched “peep” calls.
Taking note of vocalizations, perching habits, and flight style while observing a hawk will provide additional clues to confirm its species.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here is a quick side-by-side overview of field marks to separate red shouldered hawks from broad-winged hawks:
Field Mark | Red Shouldered Hawk | Broad-winged Hawk |
---|---|---|
Size | Large | Small |
Length | 15-19 in | 13-17 in |
Wingspan | 37-44 in | 29-35 in |
Weight | 1.1-1.9 lbs | 0.5-1.1 lbs |
Body Shape | Chunky | Slender |
Head Shape | Large and blocky | Smaller and rounded |
Shoulders | Reddish-orange | Gray |
Underparts | Heavily barred reddish | Finely barred white |
Tail | Long with bold black and white bars | Short with thin gray and white bars |
Flight Style | Soaring circles | Erratic flapping |
Perch Sites | Open, low snags | Concealed in foliage |
Habitat | Wetlands | Upland forests |
Conclusion
Telling apart a red shouldered hawk from a broad-winged hawk comes down to differences in size, proportions, markings, behavior, and habitat preferences. With good viewing conditions, an experienced birder can recognize the distinctions in shape, patterns, flight style, and perching positions that separate these two woodland hawks. Juveniles and molting adults can be more challenging, but are still identifiable with practice.
Features like the reddish shoulders, heavily barred underparts, boldly patterned tail, and bulky shape and proportions point to red shouldered hawk. More delicate build, unmarked gray shoulders, narrowly barred underparts, short tail, and erratic flight indicate broad-winged hawk. Observing hawks in the right habitats and listening for vocalizations provides additional identification support.
Armed with the right field marks, birders can confidently tell a soaring red shouldered hawk from a flapping broad-winged hawk. Careful study and comparison will help refine ID skills for distinguishing these and other similar woodland raptor species.