Red-Shouldered Hawk vs Sharp-Shinned 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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Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

How to recognise a sharp-shinned hawk?

General appearance

The sharp-shinned hawk is approximately the size of a crow, measuring 10-14 inches and sporting a wingspan of 21 inches. Their coloration varies between a blue-gray on top and pale reddish hue below. They are characterized by their squared-off tail tip and small heads. Their legs are pencil-thin, and they exhibit a broad, rounded wing shape, with a long and square-tipped, notched tail.

Male vs female

While generally small, female sharp-shinned hawks can escalate to almost the same size as a male Cooper's Hawk. The size parody among the species sometimes makes a distinction in the field perplexing and demands expert birding skills.

Juvenile

Young sharp-skinned Hawks differ from adults in coloration, starting as brown above with striped markings below. Compared to young Cooper's Hawks, juveniles of this species may demonstrate more blurry streaking on their lower-body. Over time, these youthful streaks gradually give way to the monotone, pale reddish coloration of their underside observed in adulthood.

Size

9.1 - 13.4 in/3.1 - 8.4 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Sharp-shinned hawks primarily inhabit mixed or coniferous forests and open deciduous woodlands. They often choose to nest in groves of coniferous trees within mixed woods or dense deciduous trees.

Additional range

In winter, they can be found in any forest or brushy area, avoiding open country. Also, they sometimes reside in pure coniferous forests with nearby brush or clearings.

Range Map

What do sharp-shinned hawks like to eat?

Natural diet

The sharp-shinned hawk primarily preys on small birds, focusing on species approximately sparrow-sized up to robin-sized, and occasionally up to quail-sized. Their diet is supplemented with small mammals such as rodents, bats, and squirrels. Reptiles and amphibians form a minor part of their diet, including lizards, frogs, and snakes. Additionally, large insects are sometimes consumed.

Bird feeders

Sharp-shinned hawks are known to visit backyard bird feeders, primarily to prey on the small birds that frequent these areas. They do not consume seeds or other typical bird feeder offerings but are attracted by the presence of potential prey.

What does a sharp-shinned hawk sound like?

The sharp-shinned hawk vocalizes with sharp, repeated "kik-kik-kik-kik" calls, often resembling chatter. It is also known for its shrill scream that usually follows a simple, flat, falling pattern. These distinct sounds enable this hawk species to communicate effectively within its habitat.

Call

Audio by G. McGrane

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Red-Shouldered Hawk

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Sharp-Shinned 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

View full details

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

General appearance

The sharp-shinned hawk is approximately the size of a crow, measuring 10-14 inches and sporting a wingspan of 21 inches. Their coloration varies between a blue-gray on top and pale reddish hue below. They are characterized by their squared-off tail tip and small heads. Their legs are pencil-thin, and they exhibit a broad, rounded wing shape, with a long and square-tipped, notched tail.

Male vs female

While generally small, female sharp-shinned hawks can escalate to almost the same size as a male Cooper's Hawk. The size parody among the species sometimes makes a distinction in the field perplexing and demands expert birding skills.

Juvenile

Young sharp-skinned Hawks differ from adults in coloration, starting as brown above with striped markings below. Compared to young Cooper's Hawks, juveniles of this species may demonstrate more blurry streaking on their lower-body. Over time, these youthful streaks gradually give way to the monotone, pale reddish coloration of their underside observed in adulthood.

Size

9.1 - 13.4 in/3.1 - 8.4 oz

There's more to learn about Sharp-Shinned Hawk

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How to tell the Red-Shouldered Hawk from the Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Visual differences

The Red-Shouldered Hawk is larger (17-24 inches, 1.1-1.7 lbs) with reddish-brown shoulders, barred rufous chest, and distinctive black and white checkered wings. Its tail is checkered and wings are rounded. The Sharp-Shinned Hawk is smaller (10-14 inches, 0.19-0.53 lbs), with blue-gray upper parts, pale reddish underparts, pencil-thin legs, and a squared-off tail. Juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawks show streaked brown plumage, while juvenile Sharp-Shinned Hawks are brown above with striped markings below. Both exhibit distinct wingtips in flight: transparent crescent in Red-Shouldered, broad in Sharp-Shinned.

Key differences and behavior

The Red-Shouldered Hawk and Sharp-Shinned Hawk both display notable behavioral differences in their respective habitats, diets, and breeding. Red-Shouldered Hawks (17-24 inches in length) favor deciduous and mixed forests near water, feeding on a mix of small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Sharp-Shinned Hawks (9-13 inches) inhabit mixed or coniferous forests, primarily preying on small birds. During breeding, Red-Shouldered Hawks engage in elaborate courtship displays, nesting in tall trees near water, while Sharp-Shinned Hawks perform aerial acrobatics and prefer dense coniferous forests. Red-Shouldered Hawks maintain unique interactions with other birds, like cooperating against Great Horned Owls with crows. Sharp-Shinned Hawks, however, are more solitary hunters and are known to visit bird feeders to hunt small birds.

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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

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

How to recognise a sharp-shinned hawk?

Habitat

What do sharp-shinned hawks like to eat?

What does a sharp-shinned hawk sound like?

Call

There's more to learn about Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Red-Shouldered Hawk

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Sharp-Shinned Hawk

There's more to learn about Sharp-Shinned Hawk

How to tell the Red-Shouldered Hawk from the Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Visual differences

Key differences and behavior

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