Red-shoulder hawk

Description:

Males are 38 to 58 centimetres (15 to 23 in) long and weigh on average 550 g (19 oz). Females are slightly larger at 47 to 61 cm (19 to 24 in) in length and a mean weight of 700 g (25 oz). The wingspan can range from 90 to 127 cm (35 to 50 in).[1][2][3][4] Adult birds can vary in mass from 460 to 930 g (1.0 to 2.1 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing bone is 28–35 cm (11–14 in) long, the tail is 16–24 cm (6.3–9.4 in) long and the tarsus is 7.5–9 cm (3.0–3.5 in).[5] Adults have brownish heads, reddish chests, and pale bellies with reddish bars. Their tails, which are quite long by Buteo standards, are marked with narrow white bars. Red "shoulders" are visible when the birds are perched. These hawks' upper parts are dark with pale spots and they have long yellow legs. Western birds may appear more red, while Florida birds are generally paler. The wings of adults are more heavily barred on the upper side. Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks are most likely to be confused with juvenile Broad-winged Hawks, but can be distinguished by their long tails, crescent-like wing markings, and a more flapping, Accipiter-like flight style. This bird is often confused with the Red-tailed Hawk. (Wikepedia)

Habitat:

Red-shouldered Hawks are forest raptors. In the East, they live in bottomland hardwood stands, flooded deciduous swamps, and upland mixed deciduous–conifer forests. They tend to live in stands with an open subcanopy, which makes it easier for them to hunt. They are not exclusively birds of deep forest, though; you’ll find Red-shouldered Hawks in some suburban areas where houses or other buildings are mixed into woodlands. In the West, they live in riparian and oak woodlands, and also in eucalyptus groves and some residential areas.

Notes:

Seen in the wild after several days of heavy rain...everything was hungry and looking for food...some were lucky enough when foraging to find food, others were not so lucky!