Red-tailed Hawk vs Red-shouldered Hawk: What Are The Differences?

red-tailed hawk (Jamaican Buteo) and red-shouldered hawk (buzzard) are the two most common species of hawks in the United States. They are also very similar in appearance, which makes it easy for inexperienced birders to confuse them.

So how do you tell the difference between a red-tailed hawk and a red-shouldered hawk?

Red-tailed hawks are significantly larger than red-shouldered hawks. They have a characteristic red tail in their adult plumage and can be identified by their girdle and dark tail markings when viewed from below in flight. The red-shouldered hawk has a bold black-and-white striped tail and a russet belly that extends over the wings.

red tailed hawk

red-shouldered hawk

Both species are widespread, although the red-shouldered hawk is restricted to a narrow swath of the eastern half of the United States and the West Coast. However, birders can spot red-tailed hawks in any of the lower 48 states of the United States.

The two species have different habitat preferences, with the red-tailed hawk preferring more open country, while the red-shouldered hawk is a forest bird, especially near waterways and marshes.

Red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks vary significantly in plumage color and markings across their ranges. To avoid confusion, we will focus on the most important differences between these two birds, which are usually visible no matter which subspecies they belong to.

This article covers the most obvious differences between the red-tailed hawk and the red-shouldered hawk, two of the most confusingly confused birds of prey in the United States.

Red-tailed hawk in flight, from below

Which is bigger, the red-tailed hawk or the red-shouldered hawk?

Red-tailed hawks are larger than red-shouldered hawks. Both species exhibit marked sexual dimorphism in terms of body size, with females being 25% larger than males.

Read on to find out the average size of these two eagle species.

red tailed hawk measurement

• Male red-tailed hawks are 18 – 22 inches (45 – 56 cm) long. Females are much larger, 20 – 25 inches (50 – 65 cm).
• Male red-tailed hawks weigh 1.51 to 2.87 pounds (690 – 1300 grams), while heavier females weigh between 2 pounds and 3.22 pounds (900 – 1460 grams).
• The red-tailed hawk has a wingspan of 45 to 52 inches (114 to 133 cm).

Red Shouldered Hawk Measurements

• Both male and female red-shouldered hawks measure between 17 and 24 inches (43-61 cm) in length.
• Females and females both weigh between 1.1 lb and 1.7 lb (486 – 774 g).
• These eagles have a wingspan of 37 to 43.7 inches (94 – 111 cm).

Red-shouldered hawk in flight, from below

Which is more common, the red-tailed hawk or the red-shouldered hawk?

Both types of hawks are very common in the correct habitats within their range. However, red-tailed hawks have a much wider range and less specific requirements for their habitat, so it’s fair to say they’re the more common species.

distribute

Both species are partially migratory and widely distributed in the United States. However, the red-shouldered hawk is absent from most states in the Midwest, making it easy to rule out in those areas.

Read on for more details on the range of activity of these two common hawks.

red tailed hawk range

The red-tailed hawk is widely distributed in North America, from Central America in the south to Alaska in the north. They can be seen in all lower 48 US states. These birds are partially migratory, visiting the Far North in the Northwest, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast during the warmer months of the year.

Close-up of a perched red-tailed hawk

Red-shouldered hawk range

The red-shouldered hawk is most widely distributed in the eastern states of the United States. However, they also occur in a separate population on the West Coast. This species is partially migratory, with some birds visiting the northernmost ends of its range during the summer.

Eastern populations of the red-shouldered hawk occur in the following states:

• The eastern half of the United States runs from eastern Texas north and east through the Midwest to Minnesota in the north.

The Western population is distributed among the following states:

• Oregon and California

Habitat

Red-tailed hawks are birds of prairies, deserts, pastures, open woodlands, and other open habitats. Red-shouldered hawks are most commonly found in a variety of forest and wooded habitats, especially near water.

A pair of red-shouldered hawks, perched on top of a tree

Other Differences Between Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks

The difference in plumage is the surest clue to distinguish the two species of American eagle. Read on to learn what to look for when identifying these birds.

red tailed hawk feather

The red-tailed hawk is a very diverse bird with twelve subspecies. These include a dark morphing bird with a dark chocolate brown belly, and a lighter morphing bird that looks almost entirely white underneath.

Most red-tailed hawks have a distinctive broad red tail, most noticeable when viewed from below in good light. They also have a darker band of feathers on the belly and dark tie markings on the front of the wings.

Bird watchers can see these dark markings on the sides of the head on the leading edge of the wing. These birds also have larger and wider wings than the red-shouldered hawk.

The distinctive red tail of a red-tailed hawk on display

red-shouldered eagle feather

Red-shouldered hawks are relatively colorful buzzard raptor. Their wings and back are boldly marked with very dark brown and white patches. These markings contrast with its rich red underparts and yellow legs.

Like the red-tailed hawk, the coloration of these birds varies by subspecies.

Most red-shouldered hawks have a red feather on their shoulders. However, their long, distinctive black-and-white striped tail and reddish-brown striped underparts are more reliable clues.

In flight, their flight feathers have the same prominent black and white stripes as their tails. Translucent crescent-shaped patches near the wingtips are a distinctive feature of flying birds.

Red-shouldered hawk on a branch at sunset

call

Both types of hawks have distinctive calls, the red-shouldered hawk having a particularly loud call. The red-shouldered hawk produces the typical “remember‘ Salutation.Red-tailed hawks have a longer tritonecough cough cough‘ Salutation.

diet

Both hawk species are strictly carnivorous. Each eats a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate prey, although red-shouldered hawks eat a higher proportion of aquatic prey, such as amphibians and crayfish.

Due to their larger size, red-tailed hawks can hunt larger prey, sometimes even animals the size of hares.

Close up portrait of red tailed hawk

Close up portrait of a red shouldered hawk

Female red-tailed hawk vs female red-shouldered hawk

Both female red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks look more or less identical to males, so bird watchers should look for the same plumage region markings to distinguish them.

An interesting point to note is that the females of both species are significantly larger than the males. Keep this in mind when using size for final identification, as large female red-shouldered hawks may be larger than smaller male red-tailed hawks.

juvenile red-tailed hawk vs. juvenile red-shouldered hawk

Distinguishing the juveniles of these two common hawk species is much trickier because they lack some of the most distinguishing characteristics of adults.

• Juvenile red-tailed hawks are larger, with dark wing markings on the wings, light underparts, and dark girdle.
• Juvenile red-shouldered hawks have whitish underparts with distinct black spots on the throat, chest and abdomen. The absence of pale, unmarked areas on the upper chest is probably the best field marker to look for.

juvenile red-tailed hawk

juvenile red-shouldered hawk