Bird · GBIF taxon 2480529
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatusAlso known as Winter Hawk, Red-shouldered Buzzard
Red-shouldered hawks are vocal woodland raptors known for their striking rufous breast patterning and translucent wing crescents visible in soaring flight. They favor mature moist forests and wooded river bottoms, where they hunt from low perches for frogs, snakes, and small rodents. During spring courtship, mated pairs perform soaring sky dances while echoing loud, characteristic kee-rah calls through the canopy.
RaptorDiurnalVocal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Frogs and salamanders
- Small rodents
- Snakes
Predators
- Great Horned Owl
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Raccoon
ThreatsDeforestation, forest fragmentation, vehicle collisions
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed wet forests, wooded river valleys, swamps
Life span10 to 19 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAccipitriformes
- FamilyAccipitridae
- GenusButeo
- SpeciesButeo lineatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp talons and beak can cause injuries if handled; observe safely from a distance.
- What to notice
- Recognized by rufous barred chest, dark-and-white tail bands, and distinctive translucent wing crescents.
- Support conservation
- Keep a distance of at least 100 meters from nest trees in spring to prevent nest abandonment.
Responsible observation
- Listening for Calls: Listen for their loud, ringing kee-rah calls near wooded streams and swamp edges.
- Identifying in Flight: Look overhead for pale, translucent crescent shapes near the outer wingtips.
- Respecting Nest Sites: Maintain a generous distance during spring nesting to prevent disturbing brooding adults.
Competitor U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters / Public domain · cc0
Predator "Great Horned Owl, the first I've seen in decent light this year. Didn't want to disturb it for too long so we continued along the trail" by island deborah- is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Buteo_jamaicensis_1.jpg: Alan Vernon derivative work: Berichard (talk) / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative "Buteo platypterus / Gavilán aliancho / Broad-winged Hawk" by felixú is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
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