Red-shouldered Hawk
A bird a day keeps the chaos away
Red-shouldered Hawk
RESHAW
Buteo lineatus
ORDER: Accipitriformes
FAMILY: Accipitridae
Madison County, Indiana, April 2018
Smaller than Red-tailed Hawk. Adults are beautiful with rich orange barring below and bold black-and-white checkerboard patterning on wings. Often in forested areas, where they hunt from perches. Perches on wires more frequently than Red-tailed Hawk. In flight, wings seem narrow and pushed forward compared to Red-tailed or Broad-winged Hawk; also note relatively long tail. Population in California is more richly colored (darker orange) than paler Eastern birds; while Florida birds are paler with gray head and back.
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For more information about identifying birds, we suggest the following websites:
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Magnificent bird!
Thanks for showing us the lesser known birds! They are important too!