Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Adult (Eastern)
- Stocky, compact Buteo
- Reddish-orange barring on breast
- Bold black and white markings on wings and tail
- Long yellow legs
- © Jon Corcoran/GBBC, MD, February 2011
Red-shouldered Hawk
Adult (Eastern)
- Stocky, compact Buteo with longer tail
- Bold black and white bands on wings and tail
- Reddish-orange barring on underparts
- Long, slender yellow legs
- © Ian Davies, SC, Charleston, January 2012
Red-shouldered Hawk
Adult (Eastern)
- Stocky, compact Buteo
- Short, rounded wings with pale, translucent crescents at tips
- Reddish-orange barring on breast
- Bold black and white bands on tail
- © striatus, MD, May 2010
Red-shouldered Hawk
Juvenile (Eastern)
- Medium-sized, stocky Buteo with relatively long tail
- Pale facial markings
- Mostly brown, with thick dark streaks on underparts
- © jedwyer, GA, October 2010
Red-shouldered Hawk
Juvenile (Eastern)
- Smaller, compact Buteo with longer tail
- Rounded wings show pale crescent near tips
- Thick, dark streaking on breast
- Pale face
- © striatus, MD, October 2010
Red-shouldered Hawk
Adult (Eastern)
- Medium-sized, longer-tailed Buteo
- Pale head
- Reddish-orange barring on underparts
- Long, slender legs
- © Ian Davies, MA, Manomet, May 2011
Red-shouldered Hawk
Juvenile (Eastern)
- Stocky and compact
- Thick brown streaks on underparts
- Usually shows pale facial markings, including white eyebrow
- © Trish Hartmann, FL, Tampa, February 2012
Red-shouldered Hawk
Adult (south Florida)
- Compact and stocky Buteo
- Florida birds are very pale, particularly on head and breast
- Reddish-orange patch on shoulder
- Orange barring on breast
- © Dave Govoni, FL, Star Island, Kissimmee, May 2011
Red-shouldered Hawk
Juvenile (south Florida)
- Medium-sized, compact Buteo with relatively long tail
- Underparts heavily marked with dark streaks
- Pale facial markings
- © Laura Erickson, FL, Viera Wetlands, January 2012
Red-shouldered Hawk
Adult (California)
- Stocky, compact Buteo
- California birds show rich and bright orange-red on head and underparts
- Bold black and white markings on wings and tail
- Brick-red patch on shoulder
- © Bob Gunderson, CA, San Francisco, March 2012
Red-shouldered Hawk
Adult (California)
- Medium-sized, compact Buteo with relatively long tail
- California birds show rich rufous-orange throughout
- Brick-red patch on shoulder
- Bold black and white markings on wings
- © Michelle Maani, CA, Nipomo, February 2012
Red-shouldered Hawk
Juvenile (California)
- Stocky, compact, and rather "Accipiter-like" for a Buteo
- California juveniles show rich, warm brown coloration overall
- Heavy, dark markings on underparts
- Some pale facial markings, including white eyebrow
- © Cameron Rognan, CA, Arcata, February 2006
Similar Species
Juvenile "Eastern form"
- Larger and heavier than Red-shouldered Hawk
- Shorter brown tail, with thin black bands
- Darker overall, with white mottling on shoulders
- © Kevin J. McGowan, Tompkins Co, NY, November 2007
Adult "Eastern form"
- Larger and heavier-bodied than Red-shouldered Hawk
- Broader wings
- Dark streaks form distinct "belly band", with no orange barring below
- Adult tail is red above, white below, with no black and white bands
- © ashockenberry, Ontario, Canada, September 2008
Adult
- Smaller and chunkier than Red-shouldered Hawk
- Stocky, short-necked appearance
- Chocolate brown barring on breast
- Warm brown overall, with a few, thick black and white tail-bands
- © Jim McCree, Bangor, ME, April 2012
Juvenile
- Superficially similar to juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
- Stockier, and shorter-necked
- More sparse, diffuse, teardrop-shaped streaks on breast
- © Kurt Kirchmeier, SK, September 2011
Adult
- Smaller and even more compact than Red-shouldered Hawk
- Short, broad wings with thin black outline
- Dark, chocolate-brown barring on breast of adults
- Black and white tail bands are thicker, less numerous than on Red-shouldered
- © Gary Tyson, Tioga County, PA, April 2011
Adult
- Lankier proportions and more athletic build than Red-shouldered Hawk
- Short, rounded wings barely reach halfway down long tail
- Slaty blue/gray back and crown
- Dark red or orange eyes
- © Seth Reams, Portland, OR, October 2007
Juvenile
- Short, rounded wings and long tail distinctive
- Streamlined body shape
- Crisp streaking on breast with heavily barred under-wings
- Yellow eyes
- © Gerry Dewaghe , October 2008
Adult
- Much smaller and chunkier than Red-shouldered
- Dark blue/gray crown and back
- Small bill
- Dark red or orange eyes
- © Larry Sarris, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, December 2008