Red Shouldered Hawk Nest

Live Stream Camera

Female remains with young most of time for first 1-3 weeks after they hatch; male brings food, female feeds it to nestlings. Young leave the nest at about 5-7 weeks after hatching, and are fed by both parents for another 8-10 weeks. They cry a lot, begging for food. Around the end of May early June…listen in the mornings for the calls.
CAMERA TURNED BACK ON, BUT HAWKS STILL SEEM DISTURBED BY SOMETHING. NOT SURE WHY.

Conservation Status

Far less numerous than historically in some areas, including the upper Midwest and parts of the Atlantic Coast, but current populations are thought to be stable in most regions

Family Hawks and Eagles Habitat Bottomland woods, wooded streamsides, swamps. In east, nests in deciduous and mixed forest, with tall trees and relatively open understory, often along rivers and swamps. May move into more open habitats in winter. In the West, typically in riverside forest or in oak woodland, sometimes in eucalyptus groves. Florida birds may be in pine woods, mangroves.

A hawk of the woodlands, is often heard before it is seen. The clear whistled calls of this hawk are conspicuous, especially in spring; in the east, Blue Jays often give a near-perfect imitation of this call. Over much of eastern North America, the Red-shoulder has become uncommon, sticking closely to the remaining forests. Populations in Florida and California are often more visible, perhaps adapting better to open habitats.

Feeding Behavior

Usually hunts by watching from a perch, either within forest or in open, swooping down when it locates prey. Sometimes flies very low in open areas, taking creatures by surprise. May use hearing as well as sight to locate prey.

Eggs

Usually 3-4, sometimes 2. Pale bluish-white, blotched with brown and lavender. Incubation is mostly by female, roughly 33 days. Male brings food to female at nest, and may take a turn sitting on eggs while female eats. Young: Female remains with young most of time for first 1-3 weeks after they hatch; male brings food, female feeds it to nestlings. Young leave the nest at about 5-7 weeks after hatching, and are fed by parents for another 8-10 weeks.

Nesting

In courtship, male displays by flying upward, calling, then diving steeply. Pairs may soar together in circles, calling, high over nesting territory. Nest site is usually in deciduous tree, sometimes in conifer, located in fork of main trunk or at base of branches against trunk, usually 35-65′ above ground. Nest (built by both sexes) is platform of sticks and other material, lined with bark, moss, and sprigs of green vegetation. Nest may be reused for more than one season.

Diet

Including small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Diet varies with region and season. The main items are often mammals such as voles and chipmunks, at other times frogs and toads; may eat many crayfish in some areas. Also eats snakes, small birds, mice, large insects, occasionally fish, and rarely carrion.

Young

Female remains young most of the time for the first 1-3 weeks after they hatch; the male brings food, female feeds it to nestlings. Young leave the nest at about 5-7 weeks after hatching and are fed by their parents for another 8-10 weeks.