Red Shouldered hawk

Description:

This is a medium sized hawk with a banded tail. Coloring consists of a peachy barred underpart and brown, reddish brown and white markings on wings, back, head, and tail. They have broad wings and long legs. An adult hawk can reach a height between 17-24 inches with a wingspan of 36-40 inches. Ref: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-... https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/spe...

Habitat:

Habitat includes bottomland hardwood stands, swamps, and forests. They can also be found in suburban areas where woodlands are close by, and can often be found near water sources within a forested area such as lakes, streams, and wetlands. Nesting: Often in conifer trees within the fork of the tree. Red shouldered hawks often reuse a previously constructed nest. Nests can be comprised of leaves, sprigs, sticks, moss, and bark. They have one brood per year with a clutch of 2-5 eggs. The incubation period is 32-40 days with a nestling period of 42-49 days. Diet: Red shouldered hawks have a variety of food sources from amphibians and reptiles, to small mammals and birds. Ref: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-... https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/spe...

Notes:

A student in the classroom happened to look out the window when he spotted this hawk. It is the first close spotting we have seen this year. We have a lot of construction occurring in the area...hopefully this will not disrupt any previous nesting spots. It was also super cool to see the mocking bird basically attacking the hawk...over what we do not know! The hawk seemed to take it all in stride!! Fun fact provided by www.allaboutbirds.com: "The oldest-known Red-shouldered hawk was a female, and at least 25 years, 10 months old when she was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in California in 2000. She had been banded in the same state in 1974."