do red shouldered hawks eat birds

Red-shouldered Hawks are forest raptors. In the East, they live in bottomland hardwood stands, flooded deciduous swamps, and upland mixed deciduous–conifer forests. They tend to live in stands with an open subcanopy, which makes it easier for them to hunt. They are not exclusively birds of deep forest, though; you’ll find Red-shouldered Hawks in some suburban areas where houses or other buildings are mixed into woodlands. In the West, they live in riparian and oak woodlands, and also in eucalyptus groves and some residential areas. Back to top

Red-shouldered Hawks eat mostly small mammals, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. They hunt from perches below the forest canopy or at the edge of a pond, sitting silently until they sight their prey below. Then they descend swiftly, gliding and snatching a vole or chipmunk off the forest floor. They also eat toads, snakes, and crayfish. They occasionally eat birds, sometimes from bird feeders; recorded prey include sparrows, starlings, and doves.Back to top

Red-shouldered Hawks often reuse nests from past years. Scientists don’t know which sex originally selects the nest site, although the male typically arrives back at the nest site first and defends the territory until the female arrives. They typically place their nests in a broad-leaved tree (occasionally in a conifer), below the forest canopy but toward the tree top, usually in the crotch of the main trunk. Nest trees are often near a pond, stream, or swamp, and can be in suburban neighborhoods or parks.

Both male and female build the nest, or refurbish a prior year’s nest. Stick nests are about 2 feet in diameter and lined with bark, moss, lichens, and conifer sprigs. The parents continue to add fresh green leaves throughout the nesting season.

Red-shouldered hawks soar and circle with wings and tail spread out like a typical buteo hawk, but they also flap their wings quickly and glide through forests underneath the canopy, the way an accipiter such as Cooper’s Hawk does. When hunting, they perch near a wooded water body and watch for their prey to appear below them. In populated areas, such as forested suburban developments, they can become very unconcerned and approachable by people, but in wilder areas they flush easily. On their territories, Red-shouldered Hawks are aggressive, sometimes locking talons with intruding hawks and also attacking crows, Great Horned Owls, and even humans. As a mating display, the male enacts a “sky dance” in which he soars while calling, then makes a series of steep dives toward the female, climbing back up in wide spirals after each descent, before finally rapidly diving to perch upon the female’s back.Back to top

Red-shouldered Hawk populations increased over 2% per year throughout most of their range between 1966 and 2019, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 1.9 million and rates the species 8 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score. The biggest threat to Red-shouldered Hawks is continued clearing of their wooded habitat.

Crossley, R., J. Liguori, and B. Sullivan. (2013). The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors. Princeton University Press, New Jersery, USA.

Dykstra, Cheryl R., Jeffrey L. Hays and Scott T. Crocoll. (2008). Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA.

Lutmerding, J. A. and A. S. Love. (2020). Longevity records of North American birds. Version 2020. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Bird Banding Laboratory 2020.

Sauer, J. R., D. K. Niven, J. E. Hines, D. J. Ziolkowski Jr., K. L. Pardieck, J. E. Fallon, and W. A. Link (2019). The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966–2019. Version 2.07.2019. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD, USA.

Sibley, D. A. (2014). The Sibley Guide to Birds, second edition. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY, USA.

What Size is a Red-shouldered Hawk?

• The Accipitridae family, which comprises 224 species of hawks, eagles, vultures, harriers, and kites, includes red-shouldered hawks.
• Are daytime ecological equivalents of Barred Owls (Strix varia).
• In many areas of eastern North America, Red-shouldered Hawks have been supplanted by Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) due to forest fragmentation.
• Sometimes compete with Broad-winged Hawks (Buteo platypterus) for nest sites.
• possess lengthy, rudder-like tails that enable them to quickly turn while chasing prey.
• Are easily identified by a crescent “window” on their wings.
• Small fish and frogs are among the aquatic and semi-aquatic animals that red-shouldered hawks frequently eat.
• Are quite vocal when courting. Their calls are often mimicked by Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata).
• are located in the eastern United States and California, two distinct regions of North America.
• possess lighter feathers in Florida compared to the North

Seasonal Count – from North Lookout – 1934 to Date

Slender and forest-dwelling, redshoulder Buteos are found in much of eastern United States and southeast Canada; they are also found in Oregon, California, and Mexico. Large, mature, contiguous, mixed deciduous coniferous forests with open understories are typically preferred by the species. Red-shouldered Hawks are attracted to damp forests, especially those with bottomlands close to rivers, streams, marshes, and swamps. The Red-shouldered Hawk was New England’s most common Buteo in the early 1900s. Red-shouldered hawks’ suitable habitat was diminished by the 20th century’s logging of mature forests, which benefited redtailed hawks. Large-scale forest loss also increased the frequency of Great Horned Owl competition and predation.

The size of Red-shouldered Hawks lies in the middle, with smaller Red-winged Hawks and larger Red-tailed Hawks. Red-shouldered Hawks have long, broad wings and fanned tails, just like other Buteos. In contrast to other Buteos, this species is lankier and has a tail that is proportionately longer. When in active flight, Redshouldered Hawks can have an Accipiter-like appearance and fly in short glides interspersed with rapid wingbeats. Transparent, crescent-shaped patches near the tips of the wings are visible on this species when it soars overhead, especially in backlit conditions. – Reddish breasts, rufous shoulder patches, brownish heads and backs, and black and white flight feathers are characteristics of red-shouldered hawks. Their tails are black with several narrow white bands. Juveniles have cream-colored underparts with brown streaking and are primarily brown from above. They are most heavily streaked on their chests. The Red-shouldered Hawk speaks quite a bit, especially when it’s mating. Its characteristic call is a loud scream called Kee-aah, which Blue Jays frequently imitate. Red-shouldered Hawks have five recognized subspecies, and their appearance varies slightly throughout their range.

Red-shouldered Hawks are monogamous, and the majority of them mate for the first time at the age of two. For many years, pairs typically stay in the same areas and return to the same nest sites. About eighteen days are dedicated to courtship, during which “circling flight” and “sky-dancing” performances take place. Pairs of them soar together, wings spread, tails fanned, as they circle around. The male and female soar toward and then away from one another, and occasionally one of them soars higher than the other and dives on it. Men “sky-dance” by plunging sharply down and then spiraling back up again and again. Red-shouldered Hawks call frequently during courtship flights and are especially talkative before hatching. Red-shouldered Hawks typically build their nests in forests that are mixed deciduous and coniferous. In deciduous trees, nests are usually constructed at a crook of the main trunk, higher than halfway up the tree but still inside the canopy. Nest construction involves both males and females and takes one to five weeks. Nests are made of sticks, bark strips, dried leaves, lichens, conifer sprigs, and Spanish moss. They measure 45–60 cm in diameter and 20–30 cm deep.

Red-shouldered Hawks lay one clutch per year. Sometimes, if the original clutch is destroyed, replacement clutches are installed. The species usually lays three to four eggs. Overall, nest success varies, and two critical factors are when to nest and when food is available. Predation is also a threat to nesting success. Red-shouldered Hawk eggs, young, and adults are prey for Great Horned Owls and raccoons. Potential predators include martens, fishers, Peregrine Falcons, Red-tailed Hawks, and others. – The female incubates the eggs for roughly five weeks. Because incubation starts before all of the eggs are laid, clutches hatch at different times. Following the hatching of the eggs, the female raises the nestlings nonstop for a week, but then gradually reduces her brooding time. To provide food, the male must stay at the nest while the female stays behind. Food is brought by the male to a location close to the nest, where he calls for the female, who takes the food and gives it to the young. Both the male and the female start searching for food for the young a few weeks before they fledge, or leave the nest. By the time the nestlings are about eighteen days old, they can tear apart food. When they are 35 to 45 days old, young fledge When the fledglings are seven or eight weeks old, they start catching their own food. They initially primarily capture insects, but after a few weeks they begin to capture vertebrates as well.

Red-shouldered Hawks are omnivores that consume a wide variety of prey, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. In the United States, crayfish are a major source of food, especially in the Southeast. Meadow voles and eastern chipmunks are the primary prey in a large portion of eastern North America. In general, adults return with mammals most often to feed the nestlings. While they occasionally hunt from the air, Red-shouldered Hawks primarily hunt from perches. Red-shouldered Hawks occasionally hunt in open spaces from a low, coursing flight akin to a harrier.

There are 26 raptor species in North America that are partial migrants, including the red-shouldered hawk.

People from the northern half of the species’ range migrate to the east. In the West, most populations are sedentary. Red-shouldered Hawks migrate over short to moderate distances; most of them cover between 300 and 1,500 kilometers per trip. The species migrates along inland ridges and coastlines, following leading lines. Red-shouldered Hawk counts are higher at coastal watchsites than at inland locations. When migrating in the fall, juveniles frequently go before adults, but in the spring, adults come before juveniles. Usually migrating alone, red-shouldered hawks can occasionally form small flocks of three or more birds. The species usually avoids crossing large bodies of water. Red-shouldered Hawks are seen soaring, gliding, and flapping during their migration. – Every autumn, Hawk Mountain counts roughly 300 Red-shouldered Hawks, with the highest number recorded in late October. Although some go as far south as Mexico, red-shouldered hawks that are counted at the Sanctuary typically spend the winter in the Southeast of the United States.

Red-shouldered Hawk populations are estimated to number 100,000 in the world today.

Overall, it seems that fewer Red-shouldered Hawks are present, although there may be regional variations. Because lowland forest habitats are being cleared or drained, many populations have declined. Great Horned Owl predation is a common natural threat. However, people also endanger the species both directly and indirectly. Red-shouldered Hawk populations are still being impacted by habitat loss, which has led to population decreases. Changes in habitat make it easier for rivals and possible predators to supplant or predate redshoulders. In the past, one cause of death was persecution by people, particularly shooting at popular migration destinations. Shooting is no longer a serious threat to the species. Some birds die from exposure to environmental pollutants, nest failures brought on by human disturbance near their nests, and car crashes. Eggshell thinning was a result of the widespread use of the pesticide DDT between the late 1940s and the early 1970s. Nonetheless, Red-shouldered Hawk eggshell-thinning was less severe than in many other raptor species, and it’s unclear if this pesticide affected the species’ ability to reproduce.

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