RED-SHOULDERED HAWK

The Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) is a medium-sized raptor known for its striking plumage and distinctive presence in wooded landscapes. The hawk features a rich brown head, chest, and upper parts, contrasting sharply with its reddish-barred chestnut shoulders and creamy underparts streaked with reddish-brown. Adults have broad, pale bands on their tail feathers, making them easily identifiable in flight. Their diet primarily consists of small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and occasionally birds, which they hunt from a perch or while soaring.

A unique quality of the Red-shouldered Hawk is its vocal nature; it is more vocal than most other raptors, known for its loud, kee-rah call, which is often heard during its aerial displays or as a territorial declaration. In Bisbee, AZ, these hawks contribute significantly to the local ecosystem by helping control the populations of pest species, thus maintaining a balanced environment. Locally, they might also be referred to as swamp hawks, owing to their preference for forested wetlands and riparian corridors where they are most often found nesting and hunting.