Red-shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus

When seen at close range, Red-shouldered Hawks are one of Missouri's most beautiful raptors. Their rusty shoulders, surrounded by black-and-white checkered back and wings, cast a spectacular pattern in the sunlight as they fly among the trees. At certain times of year, they forage along streams and backwaters for crayfish and also eat birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians (Crocoll 1994). Midmorning is usually the best time to find them as they soar into the sky over their territories. Like the Red-tailed Hawk, this species hunts from a perch. It is frequently seen by those canoeing down a quiet Ozark stream. More than any other factor, loss of bottomland hardwood forests has contributed to the decline in numbers for this species (Hands et al. 1989).

Code Frequency

Winter and spring nest searches might have resulted in an increase in the number of confirmed reports. Despite inadequate nest detection, Red-shouldered Hawks likely nested in some or most of the blocks where possible observations were recorded.

Average Number of Birds / 100 stops

Distribution

Most records for this species were from the Ozark and Ozark Border natural divisions. Reports were scattered statewide except the Western Glaciated Plains and most of the Grand River natural sections. Rivers and swamps with extensive bottomland hardwood forests supported isolated populations of this species. Open lands and woodland plains seemed to support fewer Red-shouldered Hawks, but more Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls. Owls are a known nest predator of this species (Hands et al. 1989).

Abundance

Roadside point counts tallied this species at 1/2-2 birds per 100 stops in the Ozarks and Ozark Border natural divisions. Other survey techniques, such as canoeing, are needed to better estimate abundance.

Phenology

While some birds are present in the winter, migrants first arrive in early March and leave the state by mid-November (Robbins and Easterla 1992). Observations of birds on nests fell within the early April to early June range of egg-laying dates reported by Hands et al. (1989).

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 140 (11.6%) of 1,207 blocks