Buteo lineatus

In late winter and early spring, listen for the loud “kee-ah, kee-ah, kee-ah” calls of red-shouldered hawks high above trees. These beautiful raptors are members of the Buteo group, the broad-winged soaring hawks. Slightly smaller and slimmer than more common red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks frequent swamps and stream bottomlands. Their prey includes rats and mice, frogs, snakes, and grasshoppers. Distinguishing features are reddish-brown streaks on their breasts, banded tails, and light patches on their wing undersides when seen in flight.

Cool Links:

Carolina Raptor Center - informative page includes description, taxonomy, habitat, nesting & dietary habits.

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center - page includes ID tips, life history, range maps, photos, and sound file of call.

Birds of Prey at Buteo.com - basic info and some good photos, including a hawk in flight.

back to Nature Notebook

photo: Mike Dunn