The hawk species found in Florida with a white band on its tail is the Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus). This medium-sized raptor has distinctive plumage consisting of reddish-brown upperparts and pale underparts with reddish barring. As the name suggests, the bird has reddish “shoulders” and its most distinctive field mark is the narrow white band across the black tail tip. The Red-shouldered Hawk is a year-round resident of Florida and can be found in various habitats across the state. In this article, we will discuss the identification, range, habitat, diet, and behavior of the Red-shouldered Hawk in Florida. We will also look at where and when you are most likely to spot this fascinating bird of prey.
Identifying the Red-shouldered Hawk
The Red-shouldered Hawk is a stocky buteo with relatively long, broad wings and a short, fan-shaped tail. Adults have rich reddish-brown upperparts with variably barred underparts. The head is pale with fine dark streaks forming a distinct facial pattern. The underwing coverts are also pale with fine barring. Juveniles start out with pale underparts and a more spotted breast before attaining adult plumage by their second year.
The most reliable field mark of the Red-shouldered Hawk is the distinctive black and white banded tail seen in flight. The width of the white band can vary but it contrasts sharply with the solid black terminal band at the tail tip. The white crescent band on the leading edge of the wings formed by the primary coverts is another useful identification feature.
When perched, the Red-shouldered Hawk has an upright posture. It often bobs its tail downwards while scanning the surroundings. The wings are broad and rounded and the head projects slightly beyond the leading edge of the wings. The eyes are pale yellow to orange.
Similar Species
Some other hawks found in Florida can be confused with the Red-shouldered Hawk:
– Broad-winged Hawk: Smaller with a shorter tail and broader wings. Lacks the reddish upperparts. Tail has narrower bands.
– Red-tailed Hawk: Larger with a longer, rounded tail. Tail is brightly rufous above with a thin dark subterminal band. Underparts have a variable belly band.
– Short-tailed Hawk: Tail tip projects beyond the wings in flight. Plumage is grayish overall with little contrast between upperparts and underparts.
Range and Habitat
The Red-shouldered Hawk has a year-round range across most of Florida. It occurs in all 67 counties and is most widespread in central and south Florida. Its breeding range extends into the Florida Panhandle and along the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
This hawk inhabits a variety of wooded habitats interspersed with wetlands and open areas. Typical nesting habitats include floodplain forests, swamps, riparian woodlands, mangrove forests, cypress domes, wooded residential areas, and forest edges. Outside the breeding season, Red-shouldered Hawks frequent similar wooded habitats as well as open woodlands, parks, pastures, and agricultural areas.
Breeding Range Map
Diet
The Red-shouldered Hawk has a varied diet consisting of small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Mammals such as squirrels, rats, mice, voles, rabbits, moles, and chipmunks form a major part of the diet. It also takes a wide variety of small birds including doves, woodpeckers, blackbirds, jays, sparrows, and starlings. Snakes, lizards, frogs, salamanders, crayfish, and insects are also preyed upon.
This hawk hunts by perching on branches and poles and swooping down on prey spotted while scanning the ground. It may also hover briefly to catch prey. Large prey items are taken to a feeding perch to be torn apart before eating. The Red-shouldered Hawk often plucks fur or feathers off small mammals and birds before consumption.
Breeding and Nesting
The breeding season of the Red-shouldered Hawk in Florida runs from February through June, peaking in March and April. Though pairs may remain together year-round, courtship displays intensify during this period. The aerial courtship involves calling, chasing, and tumbling together in flight.
Nests are usually built high up in a main fork of deciduous or pine trees, 15 to 60 feet above ground. Both sexes participate in nest construction, which takes 1-2 weeks. The nest is a bulky structure made of sticks and lined with finer twigs, pine needles, moss, and leaves. Old nests are often refurbished and reused over successive years.
The typical clutch consists of 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 28-33 days. The white eggs are marked with bold reddish-brown blotches and spots. Only the female incubates while the male provisions her with food. The young fledge in about 5-6 weeks and stay dependent on the parents for several more weeks as they learn to hunt. Pairs may even attempt a second brood in a single season.
Red-shouldered Hawk Nesting Seasonality
Breeding Stages | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Courtship and Nest Building | X | X | X | |||
Egg Laying and Incubation | X | X | X | |||
Fledging of Young | X | X | X | X |
Behavior and Vocalizations
The Red-shouldered Hawk is mostly sedentary and pairs occupy a breeding territory year-round. They can often be heard calling throughout the year with frequent vocalizations made during courtship or to advertise territory ownership.
The most common call is a loud, whistled kee-aah given repeatedly. Variations of this call may sound like keeer or eeaah. Alarm calls are a rapidly repeated kak-kak-kak. Young hawks give high-pitched descending whistles when begging for food.
This hawk flies with slow, deliberate wingbeats interspersed with brief glides and circles. In flight, the wings are held slightly uplifted in a shallow V. Soaring is rare. When hunting, short hovering flights may be interspersed with flapping flight and brief periods of perching.
Outside of breeding season, Red-shouldered Hawks may roost communally. Up to two dozen birds may gather at a single roost site, possibly as an anti-predator strategy.
Viewing Tips
Here are some tips to improve your chances of spotting the Red-shouldered Hawk in Florida:
– In forested areas, scan treetops along edges for a perched hawk. Listen for their whistled calls.
– Check inside forest openings and clearings where they may hunt for prey.
– Observe fence posts and wires adjacent to wetlands – a favorite perch.
– Drive slowly along backroads through rural, mixed habitat and watch for individuals perched roadside.
– Visit nest sites early in breeding season and listen for begging calls of chicks.
– Check dead snags near water for roosting hawks in winter.
– Use squeakers or mouse calls to imitate injured prey and try eliciting a response.
– Attend local hawk watches during migration periods – some Red-shouldered Hawks migrate through the state.
Conservation Status
The Red-shouldered Hawk has a healthy population in Florida and is classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Habitat loss is a threat in some regions but in Florida, populations appear stable. As a year-round resident, this handsome Buteo is one of the most identifiable and rewarding raptors to observe in the state. Sighting the distinctive banded tail flashing overhead in wilderness areas serves as a reminder of the wild beauty of Florida’s natural landscapes.
Conclusion
The Red-shouldered Hawk is one of Florida’s most distinctive raptors, identifiable by its reddish-brown upperparts and banded black-and-white tail. As a habitat generalist found across the state, chances are good to observe this medium-sized Buteo in a variety of wooded natural areas interspersed with wetlands. Watch for it perched on branches or wires peering down for prey, listening for its whistled calls. The Red-shouldered Hawk is a year-round resident, breeding in Florida between February and June. It has adapted well to human altered landscapes while also serving as an indicator of healthy forest ecosystems. Protecting natural habitat and wilderness will ensure this iconic raptor continues to flourish in the region.