Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), Tres Rios Overflow Wetlands, Maricopa County

This Red-shouldered Hawk was photographed by Tommy DeBardeleben on 25 October 2012

This juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk was discovered and photographed by Tommy DeBardeleben at the Tres Rios Overflow Wetlands on 25 October 2012.

Throughout much of Arizona, Red-shouldered Hawks are casual to rare visitors with most records in fall and winter. Most individuals arriving in Arizona are likely from expanding populations in California. The most reliable place to see a Red-shouldered Hawk in Arizona is probably at the Hassayampa River Preserve, where there is a small breeding population in the Wickenburg area.

The combination of barred secondaries, upper breast streaking and lower breast barring identify this immature. The dark throat, long legs and plain face with buffy supercilium are also typical of Red-shouldered Hawk. The breast pattern is also highly suggestive of the expected California race, B. l. elegans.

25 October 2012, photo by Tommy DeBardeleben