Raptor of the River Woods: A Guide to the Red-shouldered Hawk
Raptor of the River Woods: A Guide to the Red-shouldered Hawk
Featuring rufous-orange breast barring, vivid shoulder patches, and a loud “kee-aah” call, the Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) is the quintessential raptor of mature bottomland hardwood forests.
1. Native Range and Habitat
- Range: Eastern North America and a distinct population along the coastal western US.
- Habitat: Deciduous swamp forests, river valleys, and wooded suburban tracts near water.
2. Diet and Hunting Tactics
Unlike Red-tailed Hawks that prefer open highway medians, Red-shouldered Hawks hunt beneath dense woodland canopies.
- Diet: Snakes, frogs, lizards, crawfish, mice, voles, and large insects.
- Tactics: Swooping down from canopy perches to snatch prey from damp leaf litter.
3. Key Facts
- Vocal Raptor: One of North America’s noisiest hawks, especially during spring courtship.
- High Nest Site Loyalty: They return to the exact same large oak or pine nest crotch year after year, continually adding sticks to enlarge the nest.
4. Conservation Steps
- Protect Riparian Buffer Zones: Retaining large, unbroken mature timber along creeks and rivers preserves their prime hunting grounds.
- Avoid Rodent Poisons: Anticoagulant baits pose a severe hazard to hawks hunting field mice.