Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus

If a Red-shouldered hawk lives in your neighborhood you have probably heard it; these hawks are very vocal and very abundant in the Bay Area. Listen for a sharp, raspy, scream-like call that sounds like kee-yuur kee-yuur. They are easy to identify in flight due to the checkerboard patterns that are easily seen on their wings and tail. These hawks build large nests in trees near streams or rivers and hunt small mammals, birds, and even snakes.

Our resident Red-shouldered hawk, Red, came to Lindsay Wildlife Hospital as a chick after falling out of his nest and sustaining permanent neurological damage due to the trauma. Red would not have been able to survive on his own in the wild, so in the spring of 2010, he was transferred over to our animal ambassador team when he was 3 months old. Red immediately became the favorite of many volunteers and staff due to his eagerness to engage with his handlers. 

Red has been working on flight training since 2017 and always has a great time. After every training session, he becomes a “triangle” (view the picture on this page to see and example!). This behavior means he is very comfortable — and he is enjoying soaking up the sun shine!