Red-shouldered Hawk
A species of Buzzards and Buteo Hawks, Also known as Red-bellied Hawk, Mouse Hawk Scientific name : Buteo lineatus Genus : Buzzards and Buteo Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawk, A species of Buzzards and Buteo Hawks
Also known as:
Red-bellied Hawk, Mouse Hawk
Botanical name: Buteo lineatus
Genus: Buzzards and Buteo Hawks
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Photo By Andrea Westmoreland , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The red-shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized hawk and can be found as a permanent resident in most parts of North America. The hawk species is scientifically called Buteo lineatus and is known for being territorial and monogamous. To attract a mate, the hawk takes part in a courtship flight where it dances by flying high and making steep dives.
Size
43 - 61 cm
Life Expectancy
20 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
2 - 5 eggs
Incubation Period
1 brood
Number of Broods
32 - 40 days
Nestling Period
42 - 49 days
Feeding Habits
Red-shouldered Hawk primarily consumes small mammals, such as voles, gophers, mice, and chipmunks. Additionally, they hunt lizards, snakes, amphibians, birds, fish, and large insects. They stalk prey from perches, skillfully gliding to capture food on the ground or at water edges.
Habitat
Red-shouldered Hawk, a forest raptor, is commonly found in various woodland habitats across different regions. In the eastern areas, their preferred environments include bottomland hardwood forests, flooded deciduous swamps, and upland areas with a mix of deciduous and conifer trees. These locations typically feature an open subcanopy, which is conducive to their hunting practices. While often associated with deep forests, red-shouldered Hawk are also adaptable to suburban settings where their habitats intermingle with human dwellings. Conversely, in the western regions, red-shouldered Hawk prefer riparian and oak woodlands, as well as eucalyptus groves, and are sometimes observed in residential locales.
Nest Behavior
Both sexes partake in constructing or refurbishing nests, with the male usually arriving at the site first. Red-shouldered Hawk may reuse previous nests and exhibits continuous refurbishment during the breeding season. Nesting includes adding greenery even after initial construction.
Nest Characteristics
Red-shouldered Hawk builds nests predominantly in broad-leaved trees or occasionally in conifers, generally placed below the canopy but near the tree top, often in the crook of the trunk. Nest sites are commonly near water bodies and may be in suburban settings. The nests are constructed of sticks, about 2 feet in diameter, lined with bark, moss, lichens, and sprigs. Fresh green leaves are added over time.
Dite type
Carnivorous
People often ask
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird Feeder Type
Platform
Sounds
Call
Recording location: United States
Call
Recording location: United States
Behavior
Red-shouldered Hawk exhibits a mix of soaring habits akin to its Buteo kin, stretching out its wings and tail, and the agile flight of Accipiters, weaving through forest canopies with rapid flapping and gliding. Daily activities involve patiently perching near watery woodlands, vigilantly scouting for prey. Remarkably adaptable, red-shouldered Hawk shows varying human tolerance, from approachability in suburban settings to skittishness in remote havens. Territorial and combative, red-shouldered Hawk fiercely defends its domain against other raptors and perceived threats. A notable behavior is the male's breathtaking courtship 'sky dance,' a series of commanding aerial displays culminating in a demonstration of aerial prowess and connection with the female.
Distribution Area
An eastern population ranges west through southern Canada from southern New Brunswick and Ontario to the eastern edge of the U.S. Great Plains, south to Florida, the Gulf Coast, and eastern Mexico. A western population breeds west of the Sierra Nevada from northern California to northern Baja California, and has recently expanded into Oregon and Arizona, and east of the Sierra Mountains in California. Eastern populations winter from southern Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Ohio and southern New England south to the Gulf Coast, occasionally throughout breeding range. 
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Family
Hawks Genus
Buzzards and Buteo Hawks Species
Red-shouldered Hawk 
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