Altough Red—shouldered Hawks nest in wooded habitat, they hunt for prey in open spaces like meadows and city blocks. These beautiful raptors, with their deep red heads and underparts and black and white variegated wings, are about 19 inches in length with a 40 inch wingspan. They feed on small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Fun Fact As logging and development cleared forests along the north coast, the Red—shouldered Hawk's habitat range has spread. These raptors require dense forests to nest in that are adjacent to large open spaces where they can hunt.