Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), St. David, Cochise County

This immature California Red-shouldered Hawk (B. l. elegans) was found by Clifford Cathers, Wayne Forsythe and Ron Cicerello on 20 February 2008 in St. David near the intersection of Highway 80 and Calle de Oro which is just north of the Golden Bell Road turnoff from Highway 80.  It was photographed by Clifford Cathers.  Red-shouldered Hawk is rare but regular in Arizona and has been increasing in recent years.  

Red-shouldered Hawk is an ABC review species.. The ABC requests that reports of these species be accompanied by full details, including when possible, a photo, tape recording, video, or field sketch.  Please send documentation to the Arizona Bird Committee via the online form or click here for further instructions and information about ABC.  Submission of documentation to AZFO does not constitute submission to the ABC.

Immature Red-shouldered Hawks of the California subspecies (B. l. elegans) look surprisingly like adults of the Eastern supspecies (B. l. lineatus) and even have a little red on the shoulders.  Note the streaked upper breast and the grayish, rather than white, last band on the tail marking this an immature B . l. elegans.  Adult B. l. elegans are much more rufous than adult B. l. lineatus.

 

 

20 February 2008 photos by Clifford Cathers