Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk is fairly common in Sonoma County and present in most parts of the county, although rarely seen right at the coast or in the most densely forested zones. Favors open forest and edge environments with tall trees, but may be seen active in areas well away from woods as well. Tends to stay near water. Not uncommonly seen in the suburbs where there are still good stands of trees. Generally solitary. Hunts from high perches. Often seen on power lines. Feeds on small mammals, snakes, amphibians, and even large insects. Nests in much of the central part of Sonoma County.

Often identified by its shrill repeated cries before it's sighted. Perched birds show a pale rufous breast barred with white and rufous "shoulders;" heavily barred black and white on the back and folded wings; yellow legs and feet; yellow cere (the bump just above the bill). Seen in flight from below, the most conspicuous features are the broad, black and white-barred tail, and the relatively broad wings. The body and wing linings are washed with orange, but that can be hard to see if strongly back-lit. Light from above will create what look like two pale crescents, one toward the tip of each wing, at the base of each set of primaries--often referred to as "windows." These are visible in the photo below. The windows in the wings combined with the pale orange breast and the black and white (almost checkered) back are unique to this bird.

For current raptor migration information, visit the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory website

English synonyms: Chicken Hawk, Elegant Hawk, Hen Hawk, Red-bellied Hawk, Red-shouldered Buzzard, Red-shouldered Hawk, Winter Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk in other languages--German: Rotschulterbussard; Spanish: Aguililla Pechirroja, Aguililla Pecho Rojo, Busardo Hombrorrojo, Gavilán de Hombros Rojos, Gavilán de Homros Rojos; French: Buse à épaulettes, Buse à épaulettes rousses; Russian: Канюк красноплечий, Красноплечий канюк; Chinese: 赤肩鵟; Japanese: カタアカノスリ(kataakanosuri)

(Language information from Avibase, Birds of Europe (Mullarney et al, Princeton Field Guide Series), and Birds of Asia (Mark Brazil, Princeton Field Guide Series).