Fauna Flora Photography

Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus

A medium sized hawk, resident around Montreal throughout the year. This species is a forest raptor searching for prey while perched on a treetop or soaring over woodland.

Specs

Length45-68cm
Weight600-1000g
Wingspan101-127cm

Common Names

GermanRotschulterbussard
EnglishRed-shouldered Hawk
FrenchBuse à épaulettes
SpanishBusardo hombrorrojo

Taxonomy

OrderAccipitriformes
FamilyAccipitridae
SpeciesButeo lineatus

How to Identify

Look for the reddish colouring of breast and shoulder. On flight, notice the reddish color on the lower part of the tail feathers.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) - Parc Michel-Chartrand - 2024-02-04
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) - Jardin Botanique de Montréal - 2023-05-25
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) - Parc Bernard-Landry - 2021-04-10
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) - Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies - 2016-03-22

Where and When to Spot

For the best chance to see one or even a couple, visit Park Angrignon, Park Pointe-aux-Prairies or Park Bernard-Laundry (Laval) in winter or early spring. Best season of the year is winter or early spring due to lack of leaves. This species likes to perch on treetop and without lush vegetation it is better visible.

SpringSummerFallWinter
Jardin Botanique de Montréal x x - -
Parc Angrignon x - - -
Parc Michel-Chartrand - - - x

Where and when a species has been observed, identified, and recorded.

Videos of Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)


Last updated on 2023-12-15. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.