Red-shouldered Hawks are beautiful medium-sized raptors found in Oregon, particularly in the western part of the state, favoring moist woodlands, riparian areas, and oak woodlands. While both sexes share similar plumage, they exhibit reversed sexual dimorphism, with the female being larger than the male.

Male Red-shouldered Hawk

Size: Males are the smaller of the two sexes, roughly the size of a crow.
Length: Approximately 15-23 inches (38-58 cm)
Wingspan: Around 35-50 inches (90-127 cm)
Weight: Typically around 1.2 lbs (550 g).
Plumage (Adult):
Upperparts: Dark brown with pale spots, and importantly, prominent reddish-brown "shoulder" patches on the upper wing coverts, which are visible even when perched.
Underparts: The breast and belly are a warm reddish-brown or rufous, often with fine pale barring. The exact shade and barring can vary slightly by individual and subspecies (the western subspecies elegans found in Oregon tends to have a more solid orange breast, lacking the breast barring of Eastern adults).
Tail: Relatively long for a Buteo (soaring hawk), black with several narrow white bands.
Flight Feathers: The undersides of the flight feathers (primaries and secondaries) are boldly patterned with black and white, creating a checkered appearance. In flight, they often show translucent, crescent-shaped pale patches near the wingtips.
Head: Brownish head.
Eyes: Dark brown eyes (juveniles have yellow to pale brown eyes).
Legs: Long yellow legs.
Voice: A distinctive and often-heard call, especially during the breeding season, is a loud, drawn-out "kee-aah" or "kee-aah, kee-aah," often repeated. This call is sometimes mimicked by Blue Jays.
Behavior: During courtship, males perform elaborate "sky-dances," soaring high and then making steep dives.

Female Red-shouldered Hawk
Size: Females are noticeably larger and heavier than males.
Length: Approximately 19-24 inches (47-61 cm)
Wingspan: Around 39-50 inches (99-127 cm)
Weight: Typically around 1.5 lbs (700 g), but can range from 1 to 2 lbs (460-930g).
Plumage (Adult): Virtually identical to the male adult plumage. There is no significant difference in color or pattern between the sexes in adults.
Upperparts: Dark brown with pale spots and prominent reddish-brown "shoulder" patches.
Underparts: Warm reddish-brown or rufous breast and belly, with varying degrees of pale barring.
Tail: Long, black with narrow white bands.
Flight Feathers: Boldly patterned black and white on the undersides, with translucent crescent patches near the wingtips.
Head: Brownish head.
Eyes: Dark brown eyes.
Legs: Long yellow legs.
Voice: Similar to the male's call, though sometimes slightly deeper or louder due to their larger size.

Key Identification Points (Both Sexes)

"Red Shoulders": This characteristic reddish-brown patch on the upper wings is a key field mark, visible when perched.
Checkered Flight Feathers: The bold black and white barring on the flight feathers, particularly visible from below in flight, is distinctive.
Crescent Wing Patches: Translucent, pale crescent-shaped markings near the wingtips are a good field mark, especially when soaring and backlit.
Tail Pattern: Long tail with narrow white bands on a black background.
Habitat in Oregon: Red-shouldered Hawks in Oregon are typically found in moist woodlands, especially riparian areas along rivers and streams, oak woodlands, and even in some suburban areas with large trees and nearby woodlots. They prefer areas with an open understory, allowing them to hunt from perches.
Hunting Style: They primarily hunt from perches within the forest, swooping down to catch small mammals (voles, chipmunks), amphibians (frogs, toads), reptiles (snakes), and sometimes birds, crayfish, or insects. They can also fly with quick wingbeats and glides through the forest, almost accipiter-like.
Vocalizations: Their loud "kee-aah" call is a very common way to detect their presence, especially during the breeding season.