Red-shouldered Hawk in October
Where red-shouldered hawks are in October, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
October in the Red-shouldered Hawk's year
October brings the year's great turnover. The last long-distance migrants depart, winter visitors arrive from the North, and sparrows flood back into brushy edges and feeder yards. The first hard frosts end the insect season across most of the continent.
For the Red-shouldered Hawk specifically, October is a fall 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 October
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In October, 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 October
Red-shouldered hawks are not nesting in October. 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 October
- Voles, mice and small birds
A woodland hawk of leafy suburbs, often perching low over ponds and yards. Blue Jays copy its call.
This is the month to get winter feeding stations established — birds are scouting the food sources they'll rely on all winter.
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 October, 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 October?
In October, 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 October?
No — red-shouldered hawks typically nest March through June at mid-latitudes.
What do red-shouldered hawks eat in October?
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.