The red-shouldered hawk gets its name from the red-brown lines that line the upper part of its wings, which give it a red-shouldered appearance.
They are large in comparison to other hawk species, and the females of this species are larger than the males.
They have brown heads and light brown bellies with black and white checked wings. Their diet consists mostly of small mammals, which get as large as rabbits.
Their color can alter depending on location, and in Ohio they are likely to have a lighter-colored appearance than in other parts of the country.
They do not prefer to perch in trees that are alive, because the leaves can get in the way of their view of the forest floor below, where their food sources are found.
They also are one of the few bird species that will return to its nest each year, they do not build new nests for each breeding season.
Also, different from some hawks, red-shouldered hawks use their hearing as an aid in hunting, often relying on that just as much as their eyesight.
When can this bird be seen in the state?
The red-shouldered hawk can be seen in Ohio throughout the entire year.
Where can this bird be seen in the state?
The red-shouldered hawk can be seen all over Ohio. They can be found in dead trees in forests or swamps where they will scout the ground below for small mammals.
Thanks for putting together this great list! I just love shooting hawks with my camera.
I came here looking to ID a pair of hawks that I didn’t recognize in a field near my home in central Ohio. They didn’t quite fit any so I kept looking. Turned out to be Northern Harriers which aren’t on your list. I thought maybe they technically weren’t a hawk but the Audubon site calls them as such. I thought I found something extremely rare but maybe not so much. Perhaps you may want to include them?
Hi Stewie, thanks for the comment, you’re quite right! I have missed out the Northern Harrier, I will look to add it to the list asap! Thanks again.
I just had a shinned hawk on our suet cake thingy, I am pretty persistent of keeping hawks out of our yard. Loud noises, chasing with brooms and throwing things at them ( I love my birds). But, I actually thought this was some kind of falcon (in the middle of woods?), so I just looked him over for a bit and then yelled at him, but it was pretty.