Red-shouldered Hawk of North America

Identifying a Red-shouldered Hawk takes practiced observation. My first sighting of one was confirmed by a troop of Boy Scouts, at Sky Meadows at Shenandoah Virginia. The “red shoulders” of this hawk is actually the russet coloring on his wrists. Similar to Red-tailed Hawk in coloring, Red-shouldered Hawk has a longer tail. A compact flyer, his flying silhouette is also trim. These subtle characteristics help to differentiate Red-shouldered Hawk from Red-tailed Hawk.

A quiet elusive bird, Red-shouldered Hawk spends his time perched on a low tree branch, carefully scanning the ground for prey. Living near rivers and streams, Red-shouldered Hawk prefers pouncing on insects, frogs, mice, and snakes to hunting other birds. Unlike other hawks, he hunts from his tree branch.

However, during the spring, Red-shouldered Hawk makes his presence known to all. Crying “Keeah!” he soars the sky, filled with the exuberance of the coming spring. He is celebrating winter being finally over. Calling to his far-off mate, he cries, “Come join me! This is still *our* territory!” Together, the two soar in their dance, making broad circles in the sky.

After mating, the two hawks construct a stick nest in their tree. Often they will reclaim last year’s nest with a bit of greenery like a sprig of violets. Barred Owl, the nocturnal counterpoint to Red-shouldered Hawk, shares the same territory. Often if the hawk’s nest lies unclaimed, the owl will take it.

To steal his food, American Crows will mob Red-shouldered Hawk. But then, he pursues them for their food. However when Great Horned Owl, ruler of the forest, appears, then the crows and hawk will team up to fight off this owl.

Found in Eastern North America, Red-shouldered Hawk, for some inexplicable reason, has a colony in California. In addition, scientists believe that Ridgeway’s Hawk on Hispaniola was a subspecies of Red-shouldered Hawk that filled the niche of Board-winged Hawk. Outside of Jamaica, Hispaniola is the only island in the Caribbean that lacks a population of Broad-winged Hawks. (However, because of severe habitat destruction, Ridgeway’s Hawk is gravely endangered.)

What is baffling to naturalists is why Red-shouldered Hawk’s numbers are declining in the East. Habit destruction is offered as one reason, but hawks in old-growth forests are also becoming scarcer. Perhaps the decline has to do with toxic chemicals in their environment.

Meanwhile, Red-shouldered Hawk in California happily thrives nesting among the eucalyptus trees. Perhaps he is telling us to take up our courage and leave our comfortable homes. Instead of remaining where we are, we should go and embrace the new. Leave the past behind and create our own future, for if we do not leave, we will be poisoned. Red-shouldered Hawk will guide us to our new life if we let him.

Sources:

Dunne, Pete, “The Wind Masters”, Houghton Miffin Co, Boston, 1995.

Johnsgard, Paul A, “Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons of North America”, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., 1990.

Scott, Sir Peter, ed., “The World Atlas of Birds”, Gramercy Books, New York, 2006.

Snyder, Noel and Helen, “Raptors of North America”, Voyageur Press, St. Paul, MN, 2006.

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008

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