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| MEASUREMENTS: The Red-shouldered Hawk has a body length of 15 - 19 inches, a wingspan of 3 - 3 1/2 feet, and weighs 1 - 2 pounds. |
 HABITAT: Mature mixed woodlands near open water, clearings, and rivers are the favored habitats of this hawk. It has also shown a high adaptability to human-altered habitats, including urban areas. This bird resides in the eastern half of the United States and western California. |
| DIET: Red-shouldered Hawks feed on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and insects. This hawk hunts from a perch or during flight. |
| REPRODUCTION: Like most hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks build a stick nest in a tree. The female lays 2 - 5 eggs that are incubated for 33 days. The young hawks fledge about 45 days later. This bird is usually sexually mature at 2 years. |
| NAME DERIVATION: The scientific name comes from the Latin words buteo, referring to a kind of falcon or hawk, and lineatus, meaning striped and refers to the tail. The common name suggests that the rufous colored feathers on the wing make the bird look like it has red shoulders. This hawk has also been called Red-bellied Hawk, Winter Hawk, and Red-shouldered Buzzard. |
INTERESTING FACTS:
- The Barred Owl is the nocturnal counterpart to the Red-shouldered Hawk. Both birds occupy the same range in the eastern United States, prefer the same moist woodland habitats, and eat similar animals. The hawk is active during the day, and the owl is active at night.
- Buteo hawks are referred to as buzzards in other parts of the world. The name was mistakenly applied to vultures in North America by the early settlers.
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