Red-shouldered Hawk

Scientific Name:
Buteo lineatus

Found On

Cypress Grove Trail, Mound Meadow Trail, Pine Ridge Trail, South Plateau Trail
Description

Smallish raptor with a stunning orange/brown chest and shoulders as seen from the underside. Their tail feathers and flight feathers are checkered black and white. Wings are broad and somewhat square when soaring.  

Behaviors

Very vocal! These hawks can be recognized by their repetitive "kee-ahh" calls, 5-10 times in a row. 

They eat mostly small mammals, lizards, snakes, and amphibians, hunting from perches below the forest canopy.

Fun Facts

They have quite a striking courtship: Males are known to perform dramatic "sky-dancing" displays, including upside down flights, where the male shows off to the female.

Nature Topics
Land Birds

Habitat

Feeding

Red-shouldered Hawk in a Monterey Pine tree

Photo by Chris Wagner

Red-shouldered Hawk perched in the Cypress Grove of Point Lobos

Photo by Carol Greenstreet

Red-shouldered Hawk relies on

  • Line drawing on the sun

    Sun

  • Line drawing of a water drop

    Water

  • Line drawing of a plant above ground and its roots below ground

    Nutrients