![Young red-tailed hawk soaring through the air](https://northlouisianawildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/red-shouldered-hawk-tensas-nwr20210306_0002-1024x576.jpg)
Did you know that five day old red-shouldered hawks can defecate outside the nest?
Red-Shouldered Hawks
at
a Glance
![Red-shouldered hawk soaring through the sky](https://northlouisianawildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/red-shouldered-hawk-ruston-7-1024x576.jpg)
Key Features:
Red-shouldered hawks are brown birds with reddish breasts, black and white wing feathers, and black and white tail feathers.
Least Concern - Population Increasing
Habitat:
Forests
nesting habits:
Red-shouldered hawks build their nests high in trees near water out of bark, conifer sprigs, dried leaves, lichen, Spanish moss, and sticks.
seasons red-shouldered hawks are active in our area:
All year
Diet:
Voles, frogs, lizards, mice, rabbits, rats, shrews, snakes, songbirds, and toads
hunting Behavior:
Red-shouldered hawks hunt by diving from perches in trees.
Commonly Confused With:
Cooper's Hawks and Red-Tailed Hawks
![Red-tailed hawk soaring through the sky](https://northlouisianawildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/red-tailed-hawk-ruston439-1600x900.jpg)
Red-shouldered hawks are often confused with red-tailed hawks because of their similar size and shape. However, red-shouldered hawks are smaller than red-tailed hawks.
![Two red-shouldered hawks soaring](https://northlouisianawildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/red-shouldered-hawks-darbonne-nwr0771-1598x900.jpg)
Red-shouldered hawks are often confused with Cooper’s hawks because both birds have similar coloration. Cooper’s hawks have long banded tails.