Bird
Red-shouldered Hawk
Forest dweller, wetland watcher
Where Red-shoulders Nest
Red-shouldered hawks breed statewide in Maine’s mixed forests, especially near wetlands. When winter rolls in, they head south to the southeastern U.S.
Hawk Highlights
During courtship, males put on an aerial show—soaring high, then diving steeply while letting out a sharp, shrill call. Pairs build nests together and often reuse them year after year. Once Maine’s most abundant raptor, red-shouldered hawk populations have declined since the 1900s, making healthy forest and wetland habitat more important than ever.
Quick Facts
Average Size
At 1½-2 feet long with a 3-3½ foot wingspan, red-shoulders are about the size of an American crow, but built for soaring.
What's on the Menu
Voles, chipmunks, snakes, small birds, and the occasional fish or scavenged meal. A little bit of land, a little bit of water.
The Look
Look for a brown head and back, rich reddish underparts, and a strongly banded tail. In flight, look for the pale crescent shapes near the outer edges of the wings.
