

Red-shouldered Hawks are mainly found in the eastern United States, and in a thin band along the western coast of California. Red-shouldered Hawks share some of this same range, but not all. In fact, they are likely the most common hawk in North America. Red-tailed Hawks are very widespread across the U.S. Red-shouldered Hawks live mostly in the eastern US, but Red-tailed Hawks live from coast to coast. They appear more delicate, yet lengthier, since their tails are proportionally longer to the size of their bodies. Red-shouldered Hawks are more medium sized. These larger birds have a broader wingspan, a more barrel-shaped chest, and a short but wide tail. Red-tailed Hawks are a fairly large species of hawk. Red-tailed Hawks have shorter tails and larger bodies than Red-shouldered Hawks Red-shouldered Hawk with its prey | image by 2. They may do this while flying or while perched. The second note descends in pitch, and often they repeat this call several times in a row. This is easily differentiated from the Red-shouldered Hawk’s two-note “keee-yaah,” which is higher and clearer in tone. This call is most often given while they are soaring. The Red-tailed Hawk calls a single “keeeeeaaa.” It can sound like a very hoarse scream or screech, and is more drawn out, lasting for a count of 2-3 seconds. Red-tailed Hawk calls are only one note, while Red-shouldered Hawks are two Despite their similar look, there are ways to hear and see the characteristics that make them unique. Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks are both birds of prey that eat small reptiles, mammals, and amphibians. 8 Differences between Red-tailed vs Red-shouldered Hawks Then at the end, we will learn more about each species.

In this article we will look at 8 of the major differences between Red-tailed vs Red-shouldered Hawks. These birds of prey are common across their range, and can be hard to tell apart from a distance.

You may be able to locate them by one of their common calls, “keeyuur, keeyuur” They like to perch on dead trees to observe and hunt animals on the forest floor. Red-shouldered hawks usually live in deciduous or mixed deciduous-conifer forests and swamps. Populations of this hawk in the northeast migrate to northern Mexico for the wintertime. Red-shouldered hawks breed throughout the eastern United States, northeast into southern Canada, and west of the Sierra Nevada in California. Their tails are dark brown/black with narrow white bands.

The Red-shouldered Hawk gets its name from reddish brown feathers on their upper wings giving the bird the appearance of having red shoulders, although this part of the wing is actually the hawk’s wrist. Red-shouldered Hawks have a brown head, a dark brown back and reddish brown finely barred under parts. Buteos have a chunky appearance, with broad wings and fan-shaped tails. Red-shouldered Hawks belong to a group of hawks called “Buteos” or soaring hawks.
