Watercolor portrait of Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

Red-shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus
Many are permanent residents Wooded areas often near water Common Kee-aah call

Learn to identify the Red-shouldered Hawk by ear. Master the "kee-aah, kee-aah" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“kee-aah, kee-aah”

What the Red-shouldered Hawk sounds like

A medium-sized hawk with broad, rounded wings and a long banded tail. Adults in the East have rich reddish-orange barring on their chest and reddish shoulders (upperwing coverts). The back is dark with pale spotting, and the tail is marked with bold black and white bands. In flight, translucent pale commas (crescent-shaped light areas) near the wingtips are visible. Western (California) birds are a bit paler overall but similarly patterned. Juveniles are brown above and heavily streaked below with vertical brown streaks and lack the red tones and have yellow eyes (adults have dark brown). Red-shouldered Hawks are often heard giving loud calls while circling above their wooded territories.

“kee-aah, kee-aah”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:A loud, piercing two-part call "kee-aah, kee-aah," often repeated in a series (up to a dozen or more times). This is not a song in the musical sense, but it's the primary vocalization used by Red-shouldered Hawks to advertise territory and during courtship. The first note is higher and drawn-out, the second note drops in pitch. They will perch or circle above their woods repeatedly giving this call, especially in spring. It carries far through the forest and is one of the most distinctive hawk calls in the East. Often written as “kee-aah, kee-aah”.
Don't confuse with:The Red-tailed Hawk — larger and bulkier; adult red-tails have a brick-red tail and usually a whitish breast with a dark "belly band" of streaks, lacking the rufous barring on chest.

Lessons featuring the Red-shouldered Hawk

Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Red-shouldered Hawk's sounds in these interactive in-app lessons.

Hawk Hotline lesson habitat
Hawk Hotline
Tier 4 · Songbirds & Sky Watch
Sky 'Kee' Clinic lesson habitat
Sky 'Kee' Clinic
Tier 8 · Edges & Echoes
Start Learning Free

Where you'll hear it

Wooded areas often near water. They favor mature deciduous or mixed forests, especially bottomland woods, swamps, and riverside forests. Frequently found in floodplain forests, wooded streams, and near wetlands. In the East, commonly in swampy woods and oak forests. In California, found in riparian woodlands and oak groves. They typically avoid open plains (where Red-tailed Hawks dominate), preferring forests with openings. Suburban areas with large tracts of woods and streams can also host them.

They begin breeding activities in late winter. By February or March, pairs are soaring together, calling, and refurbishing old stick nests high in trees. Eggs are laid in early spring; young fledge by summer. Throughout spring and early summer, they are very vocal (their piercing "kee-aah" calls often signify nesting areas). In fall, northern birds might shift slightly south or to more open hunting areas but generally maintain a territory year-round. During winter, they may gather in areas with abundant food (e.g., open wetlands) but usually remain in or near wooded territory. They call year-round but especially in spring. There's no major migratory period for most populations, though some movement occurs in October for those that do migrate.

Similar species

Red-tailed Hawk

Larger and bulkier; adult Red-tails have a brick-red tail and usually a whitish breast with a dark "belly band" of streaks, lacking the rufous barring on chest.

Broad-winged Hawk

Smaller Buteo hawk with a stockier body and shorter tail.

Red-shouldered Hawk sound FAQ

What does a Red-shouldered Hawk sound like?
A loud, piercing two-part call "kee-aah, kee-aah," often repeated in a series (up to a dozen or more times). This is not a song in the musical sense, but it's the primary vocalization used by Red-shouldered Hawks to advertise territory and during courtship. The first note is higher and drawn-out, the second note drops in pitch. They will perch or circle above their woods repeatedly giving this call, especially in spring. It carries far through the forest and is one of the most distinctive hawk calls in the East. Listen for the "kee-aah, kee-aah" phrase.
How do I tell a Red-shouldered Hawk from a Red-tailed Hawk by sound?
Red-tailed Hawk: Larger and bulkier; adult Red-tails have a brick-red tail and usually a whitish breast with a dark "belly band" of streaks, lacking the rufous barring on chest.; Red-tails also have broader wings with a dark bar on the leading edge (patagial mark) in flight, which Red-shouldered lacks.; Juvenile Red-tails are paler below with sparse streaking and also have a different tail pattern (few, wider bars instead of many narrow ones).; Red-shouldereds are more forest-dwelling and have a more piercing call compared to the Red-tail's raspy scream..
When is the best time to hear a Red-shouldered Hawk?
They begin breeding activities in late winter. By February or March, pairs are soaring together, calling, and refurbishing old stick nests high in trees. Eggs are laid in early spring; young fledge by summer. Throughout spring and early summer, they are very vocal (their piercing "kee-aah" calls often signify nesting areas). In fall, northern birds might shift slightly south or to more open hunting areas but generally maintain a territory year-round. During winter, they may gather in areas with abundant food (e.g., open wetlands) but usually remain in or near wooded territory. They call year-round but especially in spring. There's no major migratory period for most populations, though some movement occurs in October for those that do migrate.