The Red-Shouldered Hawk

We have a pair of red-shouldered hawks that frequent our neighborhood. In fact, this spring the birds nested less than a block away from our home; last year they nested in a tree that grows in the fencerow behind us and casts its shade into our backyard.

Saturday afternoon, while it's mate perched precariously atop a catalpa tree across the street, this red-shouldered beauty perched on the electric pole that sits next to the alley at the corner of our property.

The bird put on quite a show for us by flying from one pole to another. It was so awesome to see the pair of them and this one from such a short distance away...only a few yards!

I was surprised to discover that, although red-shouldered hawks are found statewide, they are generally associated with forests and near water. They are also considered uncommon in southern Missouri and rare in the western quarter...which, I would say, includes here, where we live, on the tallgrass prairie in the southwest corner of the state. Interesting!

To learn more about red-shouldered hawks in Missouri click HERE.

Until next time...

~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...

At The Edge of the Woods

Prairie At Night

Buffalo? Bison? What's The Difference?