Animal Behavior: The Red-shouldered Hawk, (Buteo lineatus), is a medium-sized hawk that&rsquos range spans across North America. It is one of the most distinctively marked common hawks, with reddish-peachy underparts and a banded tail. Red-shouldered Hawks are monogamous and pair mate for life. They build their nest in the main crotch of large trees found in deciduous woodlands, often near rivers and swamps. They return to the same nesting territory year after year. The female lays 3-4 eggs and incubates them for 33 days. Males bring food to the female and keep her fed during this time. Female Red-shouldered Hawks remain with the young for the first 1-3 weeks after the fledglings hatch. Young hawks leave the nest at 5-7 weeks and will be fed by the parent hawks for 8-10 weeks.

Eating Habits: Red-shouldered Hawks hunt by sight and sound - they listen for movement of prey in the leaf litter of the forest. They hunt small mammals, rodents, amphibians, reptiles, and insects from their perches or while soaring through the sky. They have binocular vision, which helps them measure depth and distance to be precise hunters.

Conservation Efforts: Though Red-shoulder Hawks are common though out North America, they are threatened due to deforestation.

Animal Facts: Red-shouldered Hawks live up to 25 years. They fly and soar at speeds between 18MPH and 34MPH. Male and female Red-shouldered Hawks look identical, but the female is slightly larger in size. These hawks soar over forests or perch on tree branches and utility wires.