Red-Shouldered Hawk vs Red-Tailed Hawk

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus

How to recognise a red-Shouldered Hawk?

General appearance

The red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus, is a medium-sized bird of prey with a distinctive appearance. It features reddish-brown shoulders, a barred rufous chest, and dark brown plumage streaked with white. The black and white checkered wings and tail are visible in flight, along with a transparent, crescent-shaped window near the wingtips. Adult eyes are dark, and legs are yellow.

Male vs female

Red-shouldered hawks exhibit slight sexual dimorphism, with females larger than males, though their plumage is similar. The size difference is a more reliable indicator than coloration when differentiating between sexes. Both males and females possess the species' characteristic red shoulder patch and barred underparts.

Juvenile

Juveniles appear more muted, with brown, streaked plumage instead of the reddish tones. Their underparts are pale with vertically streaked brown. Juvenile eye color is yellowish, darkening with age. Over time, they develop the adult's checkered wings and red shoulders.

Size

16.9 - 24.0 in/17.1 - 27.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The red-shouldered hawk primarily nests in deciduous and mixed forests with tall trees and an open understory. Typical locations include bottomland woods, wooded streamsides, and swamps.

Additional range

In the west, it favors riverside forests, oak woodlands, and sometimes eucalyptus groves. During winter, it may migrate to more open habitats. In Florida, additional locations include pine woods and mangroves.

Range Map

What do red-shouldered hawks like to eat?

Natural diet

The red-shouldered hawk's diet includes small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. It varies by region and season. Main foods often include mammals such as voles and chipmunks, and at other times, frogs and toads. In some areas, they consume many crayfish. They also eat snakes, small birds, mice, large insects, occasionally fish, and rarely carrion.

Bird feeders

Red-shouldered hawks generally do not visit bird feeders, as their diet primarily consists of live prey like small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, which are not typically available at feeders.

What does a red-Shouldered Hawk sound like?

The red-shouldered hawk has a unique vocalization, characterized by a shrill, intense scream with a specific 'kee-yeeear' pattern that has a downward inflection. This call is known for its simplicity and falling rhythm. The primary type of calls include chatter and screams that stand out due to their distinctive sound properties.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Red-Tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

How to recognise a red-tailed hawk?

General appearance

Red-tailed hawks are large birds of prey with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. The most distinctive feature is their rich, brick-red tail, visible in adults. The body exhibits a mix of brown with a pale, streaked belly and underneath. When observed in flight, the tail is often fanned and the wings show a distinct dark bar at the leading edge.

Male vs female

Although similar in coloration, females are typically larger than males, measuring about 25% more in weight. Both sexes display the same general color patterns with no significant differences in plumage. Observing size is key for differentiation in the field, as plumage features remain consistent between sexes.

Juvenile

Juvenile red-tailed hawks differ from adults, having a brown tail with horizontal bars and a more mottled brown appearance overall, lacking the red tail until maturity. Their underside is less streaked, and they showcase paler eyes compared to adults. With age, the eye and plumage color gradually deepen, and the red tail emerges after the first molt.

Size

17.7 - 25.6 in/24.3 - 56.4 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Red-tailed hawks prefer habitats such as open country, woodlands, prairie groves, mountains, and plains. These habitats provide ample open spaces for hunting and high perches.

Additional range

They are adaptable to a variety of terrains including roadsides, woodland clearings, grasslands or deserts, often seen at utility poles or trees.

Range Map

What do red-tailed hawks like to eat?

Natural diet

Red-tailed hawks have a varied diet that includes small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Their diet changes depending on the location and season. They frequently prey on mammals such as voles, rats, rabbits, and ground squirrels. Additionally, they consume many birds, up to the size of pheasants, and reptiles, particularly snakes. Occasionally, they eat bats, frogs, toads, insects, and various other creatures. They may also scavenge and feed on carrion.

Bird feeders

Red-tailed hawks typically do not gather at bird feeders because their natural prey is not commonly found there. They require larger prey, which is not provided by the seeds or smaller birds usually attracted to bird feeders.

What does a red-tailed hawk sound like?

The red-tailed hawk primarily vocalizes a high-pitched descending scream, characterized by a hoarse quality, known phonetically as "keeeeer." This call is distinguished by its simple and falling pattern. Essentially, the hawk's vocalization is typified by a shriek or scream, demonstrating a straightforward and declining tonal progression.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Red-Shouldered Hawk

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Red-Tailed Hawk

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus

General appearance

The red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus, is a medium-sized bird of prey with a distinctive appearance. It features reddish-brown shoulders, a barred rufous chest, and dark brown plumage streaked with white. The black and white checkered wings and tail are visible in flight, along with a transparent, crescent-shaped window near the wingtips. Adult eyes are dark, and legs are yellow.

Male vs female

Red-shouldered hawks exhibit slight sexual dimorphism, with females larger than males, though their plumage is similar. The size difference is a more reliable indicator than coloration when differentiating between sexes. Both males and females possess the species' characteristic red shoulder patch and barred underparts.

Juvenile

Juveniles appear more muted, with brown, streaked plumage instead of the reddish tones. Their underparts are pale with vertically streaked brown. Juvenile eye color is yellowish, darkening with age. Over time, they develop the adult's checkered wings and red shoulders.

Size

16.9 - 24.0 in/17.1 - 27.3 oz

There's more to learn about Red-Shouldered Hawk

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Red-Tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

General appearance

Red-tailed hawks are large birds of prey with broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. The most distinctive feature is their rich, brick-red tail, visible in adults. The body exhibits a mix of brown with a pale, streaked belly and underneath. When observed in flight, the tail is often fanned and the wings show a distinct dark bar at the leading edge.

Male vs female

Although similar in coloration, females are typically larger than males, measuring about 25% more in weight. Both sexes display the same general color patterns with no significant differences in plumage. Observing size is key for differentiation in the field, as plumage features remain consistent between sexes.

Juvenile

Juvenile red-tailed hawks differ from adults, having a brown tail with horizontal bars and a more mottled brown appearance overall, lacking the red tail until maturity. Their underside is less streaked, and they showcase paler eyes compared to adults. With age, the eye and plumage color gradually deepen, and the red tail emerges after the first molt.

Size

17.7 - 25.6 in/24.3 - 56.4 oz

There's more to learn about Red-Tailed Hawk

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How to tell the Red-Shouldered Hawk from the Red-Tailed Hawk

Visual differences

The Red-Shouldered Hawk is medium-sized (17-24 inches, 1-1.7 lbs) with reddish-brown shoulders, barred chest, and checkered wings. Its tail is black and white barred, with a translucent crescent near wingtips. The Red-Tailed Hawk is larger (18-26 inches, 1.5-3.5 lbs) with a brick-red tail, broad wings, and a pale, streaked belly. Juveniles are more muted in both species. Red-Shouldered Hawks have dark eyes and yellow legs, while Red-Tailed Hawks have variable eye colors. The Red-Tailed Hawk's wings have a distinct dark bar at the leading edge.

Key differences and behavior

The Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) and Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) display notable behavioral differences. The Red-Shouldered Hawk thrives in deciduous and mixed forests, often near water, while the Red-Tailed Hawk prefers diverse open habitats such as prairies and roadsides. In diet, the Red-Shouldered Hawk favors small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, often avoiding carrion, unlike the Red-Tailed Hawk, which has a broader diet, including carrion. Both exhibit elaborate courtship displays, but Red-Tailed Hawks often perform high altitude maneuvers. For nesting, the Red-Shouldered prefers taller trees near water with reused nests, whereas the Red-Tailed uses tall trees, cliffs, or artificial structures. The Red-Shouldered Hawk is slightly smaller, weighing 1.07-1.71 lbs and measuring 17-24 inches, compared to the Red-Tailed Hawk at 1.52-3.52 lbs and 18-26 inches.

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Red-Shouldered Hawk or Red-Tailed Hawk?

Red-Shouldered Hawk

How to recognise a red-Shouldered Hawk?

Habitat

What do red-shouldered hawks like to eat?

What does a red-Shouldered Hawk sound like?

Call

There's more to learn about Red-Shouldered Hawk

Red-Tailed Hawk

How to recognise a red-tailed hawk?

Habitat

What do red-tailed hawks like to eat?

What does a red-tailed hawk sound like?

Call

There's more to learn about Red-Tailed Hawk

Red-Shouldered Hawk

There's more to learn about Red-Shouldered Hawk

Red-Tailed Hawk

There's more to learn about Red-Tailed Hawk

How to tell the Red-Shouldered Hawk from the Red-Tailed Hawk

Visual differences

Key differences and behavior

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