Red-shouldered Hawk in January
Where red-shouldered hawks are in January, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
January in the Red-shouldered Hawk's year
January is the coldest month across most of the US and Canada. Natural food is at its scarcest — insects are dormant, many seed heads are stripped, and snow cover hides what remains. Birds concentrate where food is reliable, which makes this the single best month to watch a well-stocked feeding station.
For the Red-shouldered Hawk specifically, January is a winter month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 42 states and provinces where red-shouldered hawks occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where red-shouldered hawks are in January
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In January, red-shouldered hawks are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in January
Red-shouldered hawks are not nesting in January. The season runs March–June at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, red-shouldered hawks put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in January
- Voles, mice and small birds
A woodland hawk of leafy suburbs, often perching low over ponds and yards. Blue Jays copy its call.
Keep feeders consistently filled; birds add dependable stations to their daily foraging routes and suffer when one suddenly runs empty during a cold snap. High-energy foods matter most now.
Full Red-shouldered Hawk diet guide → · Best feeder for red-shouldered hawks →
Watching red-shouldered hawks this month
Red-shouldered hawks are settled and predictable in January, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region red-shouldered hawks are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Red-shouldered Hawk month by month
Red-shouldered Hawk by state
Frequently asked
Where are red-shouldered hawks in January?
In January, red-shouldered hawks are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do red-shouldered hawks nest in January?
No — red-shouldered hawks typically nest March through June at mid-latitudes.
What do red-shouldered hawks eat in January?
Voles, mice and small birds.
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.