The Red Shouldered Hawk in the woods is a welcome sight for me. I live in a heavily wooded subdivision on a reservoir where the Red Shouldered Hawk flies above my home and neighborhood every day searching for its lunch. Am I scared for my cats? Not really because the Hawk is really more interested in snakes, rodents, and frogs. Do not misunderstand me- the Hawk or any large predatory bird can eat your small dog or cat but I have yet to have one swoop down and grab my 15 lb cats.
Why am I so confident that they will not eat them? Because a few years ago (and I have to find the photos) I had a Red Shouldered Hawk bring her 3 eyas (babies) down to fish in my large backyard pond. It was the coolest day of my life in the garden. Even though they ate all my goldfish (some were 3″), the site of the Hawks sitting on my waterfall was awesome.
I have read that the Hawk stays close to its nest when hunting. The nests are high up in deciduous (ie Oak trees here) and are more constructed with twigs. I am on the lookout for a nest so I can add a picture for everyone.
This bird flies and makes quite the sound when it is calling. Here is the link to my Youtube video of the Red Shouldered Hawk. The Red Shouldered Hawk flies overhead and perches in the mighty Oaks about 25-30′ and his call/sound is so loud you would swear he is less than 10′ away. You can tell from the video (made with my cell phone) how loud they are.
The Red Shouldered Hawk can be seen far north to the Canadian border to Illinois down to Gulf Of Mexico and Florida. On the map the Red Shouldered Hawk is seen on the coast of California. From my bird books it looks like the Red Shouldered Hawk only migrates from the border of the U.S. This is truly a beautiful bird and one that love watching when I see soaring above the Oak trees.
Nature is beautiful and awe-inspiring. Thank you for stopping by and I would love to hear if you have a Red Shouldered Hawk near you!
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2016 copyrighted material C Renee Fuller @The Garden Frog Boutique
I’ve only seen this beautiful species twice…and the second time, I identified a pair calling to each other by their distinctive voice. I was in an oak forest, and heard what sort of sounded like a seagull! Very different sound for a hawk…and I had no idea they fished!! The first I’d ever seen…was perched above a creek!
I lost the pictures of them in my backyard pond but it was sight with all 3 hawks perched on different rocks. When they left the fish were gone and so was the resident frog. So even though I have not seen anyone say they eat fish- I know I had fish before they visited LOL