When do red-shouldered hawks arrive in Quebec?
The Red-shouldered Hawk is a summer breeder in Quebec — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Red-shouldered Hawk timing in Quebec
- Arrives
- Around March
- Leaves
- By July
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- April–June
- Present roughly
- March–July
In Quebec, red-shouldered hawks are present through the warm months, arriving around March and heading south again by July.
These windows are set by latitude: Quebec sits in the northern part of this species' range, so timing here runs later than the continental average — the season starts later this far north and the birds wait for it. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when red-shouldered hawks are expected in Quebec. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before March is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early March — the first red-shouldered hawks into Quebec are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around April, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What red-shouldered hawks eat while they're here
- Frogs, snakes, chipmunks and crayfish
A woodland hawk of leafy suburbs, often perching low over ponds and yards. Blue Jays copy its call.
Full Red-shouldered Hawk diet guide → · Best feeder for red-shouldered hawks →
Native plants that hold red-shouldered hawks in Quebec
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Quebec-native plants are known to attract red-shouldered hawks:
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do red-shouldered hawks arrive in Quebec?
red-shouldered hawks typically arrive in Quebec around March, with nesting underway by April. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do red-shouldered hawks leave Quebec?
Most red-shouldered hawks have left Quebec by July. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do red-shouldered hawks stay in Quebec all year?
No — in Quebec the Red-shouldered Hawk is a summer breeder, present roughly March–July. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before red-shouldered hawks arrive in Quebec?
Have feeders up and clean by early March — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: frogs, snakes, chipmunks and crayfish.
Sources
- Red-shouldered Hawk — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-shouldered Hawk life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-shouldered Hawk — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Quebec
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.