Red-shouldered Hawk Watching in Oregon

The Red-shouldered Hawk is most common in the eastern United States, but they are also found along the California coast. For some time their sightings in Oregon have been classified as Accidental, but it appears that some of them have moved north out of California and they've been spotted as far north as Portland. The Red-tailed Hawk is common in the state, but the Red-shouldered Hawk is a new entry.Adult Red-shouldered Hawks are usually between 18 and 24 inches long, with females being slightly larger than the males. They have a brownish head and a reddish chest, and the red shoulders are visible while they are perched, though the coloring can be subtle. The birds mostly eat small mammals, but are also known to eat other small creatures when the opportunity presents itself.

Habitats for Red-shouldered Hawks

Red-shouldered Hawks prefer to live in areas that are mixed with forest and open fields, and they usually breed near water. They spend much of their day perched in the canopy of trees waiting to swoop down on prey when it's spotted. They shoot their feces out of their nests so finding droppings on the ground may signal a nest above.

Best seasons to see Red-shouldered Hawks in Oregon

The Red-shouldered Hawk is still a rare sighting in Oregon, and ones found in northern climates do tend to migrate as far south as central Mexico during winter, so the summer is the optimal season if you'll be able to find any at all.

Red-shouldered Hawks in Oregon summary

Typical habitat: Forested areas near open fields
Seasons: Summer is most likely
Abundance: Still quite rare, though this may change

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