What bird sounds like a Red-shouldered Hawk?

The Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized hawk native to eastern North America. It gets its name from the reddish-orange patches on its wings that are visible when it flies. The Red-shouldered Hawk makes a distinct, piercing kee-aah call that rises in pitch and descends at the end. This call carries for long distances and is often described as sounding like kee-aah, kee-aah, kee-aah. Identifying birds by sound can be tricky, but there are a few species that make calls similar to the Red-shouldered Hawk that birders should know.

Birds with Similar Calls

Red-tailed Hawk

The Red-tailed Hawk is probably the most similar-sounding bird to the Red-shouldered Hawk. It makes a raspy, screaming keeeeer call that carries for miles. However, the Red-tailed Hawk’s call does not rise and fall in pitch like the Red-shouldered’s. It stays at the same pitch throughout. Red-tailed Hawks are also much more widespread than Red-shouldereds, found throughout most of North America.

Cooper’s Hawk

Cooper’s Hawks make a cackling kek-kek-kek call during the breeding season. To an untrained ear, their calls could potentially be mistaken for a Red-shouldered Hawk. However, Cooper’s Hawk calls are shorter and faster, while Red-shouldereds have a drawn-out kee-aah. Cooper’s Hawks are also forest-dwelling ambush predators, while Red-shouldereds prefer more open habitats. Getting a visual on the hawk can help clarify the ID.

Broad-winged Hawk

Broad-winged Hawks make a whistled peee-peee-peee call that rises and falls like a Red-shouldered’s. However, their call is higher-pitched and whinier. It does not have the resonant quality of a Red-shouldered’s voice. Broad-winged Hawks are also eastern forest hawks like Coopers, while Red-shouldereds prefer open woodlands and swamps.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

One species that is certainly not a hawk but sounds similar is the Red-bellied Woodpecker. Its rolling call, often sounding like kwirr, kwirr, kwirrr, is steady and melodious like a Red-shouldered’s. Red-bellies make this call throughout the year, so birders may mistake it for a hawk any season. However, listening for the tapping of woodpeckers can rule them out.

Identifying Features of Red-shouldered Hawk Calls

Here are some key features to listen for to identify a Red-shouldered Hawk:

• A loud, ringing kee-aah, kee-aah, kee-aah
• Call rises slightly in pitch at the beginning and falls at the end
• Very resonant tone that carries long distances
• Often makes call from high perch or while soaring
• 3-5 second pauses between calls

Regional Variations in Red-shouldered Hawk Calls

Interestingly, there are some regional dialects in Red-shouldered Hawk calls. This species shows clinal variation, where its calls vary gradually across its range. Here are some regional variations:

These regional call variations can make differentiating look-alike species like Red-tailed Hawks more challenging. Listening for the nuances in pitch, speed, and tone can help birders distinguish the dialects.

Use of Calls in Courtship and Territorial Displays

Red-shouldered Hawks use their loud, ringing kee-aah calls for two main reasons: declaring territory and courtship. Here is more on how they use their calls:

Territory Announcement

Red-shouldered Hawks are highly territorial. Their kee-aah call rings out over their home range, announcing occupation of the territory and warding off intruders. Both sexes call from prominent perches to delineate the territory borders. This usually starts in late winter leading up to the breeding season.

Pair Bonding

Red-shouldered Hawks engage in a duetting call to bond with their mate. When a pair is engaged, the male and female will call back and forth to each other with their kee-aah cries. The male typically calls first, then the female responds in turn. This strengthens the pair bond.

Habitats Where Red-shouldered Hawks are Found

Listening for Red-shouldered Hawks? Here are some prime habitats and regions to find this species:

• Eastern forests, especially near wetlands or rivers
• Open pine forests with tall trees
• Swamps and flooded woodlands
• Partially-cleared farmland or rural areas with tall trees
• Suburban areas with streams and woodland parks
• Across eastern and southeastern North America
• Increasingly in southwestern states like California

Red-shouldered Hawks favor areas with tall trees for nesting and open patches for hunting. Nearby water often increases prey abundance. They adapt well to some human disturbance and may nest in suburbs or parks. But they still require large blocks of woodland habitat.

When are Red-shouldered Hawks Most Vocal?

Red-shouldered Hawks are most vocal during two peak periods each year:

Late Winter to Early Spring

This is the lead up to breeding season, when Red-shouldereds are establishing territories and seeking mates. Their kee-aah calls start sounding in January and continue through March as pairs bond and build nests.

Late Summer

There is another spike in vocalizations in late summer and fall, from August-October. Young hawks may still be begging for food, and adults advertise territories before winter.

Here is a table summarizing peaks in Red-shouldered Hawk vocalizations:

Outside of these peaks, Red-shouldereds are still detectable but much quieter as they focus on incubating and raising young. Still, their calls can be heard on occasion year-round in most regions.

Origin and Anatomy of Red-shouldered Hawk Calls

Red-shouldered Hawk calls are produced through the syrinx, an organ located at the junction of the trachea and bronchi in birds. The syrinx has vibrating tissues that modulate airflow from the lungs into sound. Here’s a closer look at hawk vocal anatomy and how calls are produced:

Syrinx

The syrinx contains membranes and cartilage that oscillate as air passes through, acting like vocal cords. Hawks contract respiratory muscles to control the syrinx’s tension and aperture, producing different notes.

Trachea

The trachea or windpipe connects the lungs to the syrinx. In raptors like Red-shouldered Hawks, the trachea is longer to allow for more sound modulation.

Beak and Throat

Like other bird calls, the hawk’s beak and throat organs filter and amplify sounds from the syrinx. This gives species-specific tonal qualities.

Lungs and Air Sacs

Pressurized air from the lungs gives volume to hawk calls. Birds also have air sacs that may enable specialized vocal techniques like circular breathing.

Together, this anatomy allows Red-shouldered Hawks to create their loud, ringing kee-aah cries that can travel over a kilometer!

Recordings and Sound Clips of Red-shouldered Hawks

Hearing an actual Red-shouldered Hawk call is invaluable for identification. Here are some online repositories of Red-shouldered Hawk recordings and sound clips:

• All About Birds – Red-shouldered Hawk
• Xeno-Canto – Red-shouldered Hawk
• YouTube – Typical Calls of the Red-shouldered Hawk

Comparing recordings of Red-shouldereds to potential look-alikes like Red-tailed Hawks can help birders distinguish the species by call alone.

Key Points to Retain from Recordings

• Resonance and pitch changes
• Number of notes per call
• Rhythm and cadence
• Call length

Paying close attention to these details will attune your ear to the Red-shouldered Hawk’s signature vocalizations.

Conclusion

The Red-shouldered Hawk has one of the most distinctive calls in North America, but a few species make potentially confusing similar sounds. Listening for the tell-tale kee-aah, kee-aah, kee-aah that rises and falls can help identify this vocal woodland raptor. Understanding how Red-shouldereds use their calls for breeding behavior also aids identification. With some practice distinguishing regional dialects and paying attention to pitch and tone, birders can confidently recognize a Red-shouldered Hawk’s cry across much of the eastern United States.