Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus. Frogs, snakes, rodents and large insects.
Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus
- Scientific name
- Buteo lineatus
- Length
- 16.9–24 in
- Weight
- 17.1–27.3 oz
- Nest
- Stick nest in the main crotch of a tall tree
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 2–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 32–40 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Identification
- Rusty-barred chest and bold black-and-white banded tail
- Reddish shoulder patch
- Translucent crescents near the wingtips
Voice
A loud, repeated 'kee-ah' — often mimicked by Blue Jays.
Diet and feeding
Frogs, snakes, rodents and large insects.
What do red-shouldered hawks eat? · Best feeder for red-shouldered hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | March–June |
| California | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Florida | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Iowa | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Kansas | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Maine | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Nebraska | Year-round resident | March–June |
| New Brunswick | Summer breeder | April–June |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | March–June |
| New York | Year-round resident | March–June |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | March–June |
| North Dakota | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Nova Scotia | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Oklahoma | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Ontario | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Quebec | Summer breeder | April–June |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | March–June |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | February–June |
| South Dakota | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Texas | Year-round resident | February–June |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | March–June |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | April–June |
Frequently asked
What do red-shouldered hawks eat?
Frogs, snakes, rodents and large insects. At feeders: none — wet woodland is the habitat.
How big is a Red-shouldered Hawk?
16.9–24 in long and 17.1–27.3 oz.
Do red-shouldered hawks use birdhouses?
No. Stick nest in the main crotch of a tall tree.
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
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.