Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks
Buteo lineatus
The Red-shouldered Hawk is a striking raptor often found in woodlands near water. Known for its distinctive calls, this hawk is frequently heard before it is seen. Adults display warm reddish-brown underparts and boldly banded tails, making them one of the more colorful forest hawks.
Typical adult measurements.
Individuals and populations vary.
01 / The telltale details
Start with shape and behavior. Then look for the smaller details.
Adults have reddish-brown barring on the chest and belly, dark brown backs with lighter feather edges, and reddish patches on the shoulders.
The tail is dark with narrow white bands. Wings are broad with black and white checkered flight feathers.
Juveniles are duller than adults, with brown streaking on white underparts and narrower bands on the tail.
All ages show pale, crescent-shaped patches near the wingtips, visible when soaring.
02 / A place in the world
These hawks prefer deciduous and mixed forests, particularly near rivers, swamps, and other wetlands. They can also be found in oak woodlands and sometimes even suburban areas with ample tree cover.
The Red-shouldered Hawk breeds across eastern North America, extending into southern Canada and westward to central Minnesota, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. A separate population exists along the Pacific coast from southern Oregon to northern Baja California.
Northern populations are migratory, typically moving short to medium distances south into the southern United States and central Mexico for winter. Southern populations, including those in Florida and California, are generally year-round residents.
03 / Listen a little closer
Their calls are clear, whistled, and often repeated, particularly conspicuous in spring. Blue Jays are known to imitate their calls.
04 / The life behind the feathers
Their diet is diverse, consisting mainly of small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. They also consume birds, insects, crayfish, salamanders, spiders, snails, and small turtles.
Red-shouldered Hawks primarily hunt from perches, scanning the ground for prey before dropping down to capture it. They also forage by flying, often with a pattern of several quick wing flaps followed by a glide.
Nests are typically constructed by both sexes in the main fork of a large deciduous tree, often near water. They are made of sticks and lined with bark, moss, and green vegetation, and may be reused in subsequent years.
During courtship, males perform aerial displays, flying upward and diving steeply while calling. Pairs may soar together, vocalizing over their nesting territory. They are known to be aggressive defenders of their nests and territories.
05 / An eye for the difference
Red-shouldered Hawks are slightly smaller with a more slender body and longer tail; adults lack the Red-tailed Hawk's plain pale belly.
Red-shouldered Hawks are larger with longer wings and tail, and lack the Broad-winged Hawk's single broad tail band.
AI-assisted species research. Prepared September 2026. Details can vary across regions and populations.