Typically a sign of tall woods and water, look skyward to see this bird
perched on tree branches or palm fronds. Recently our Grove’s coconut palm
tree was the perch for the hawk’s highly visible red “shoulders.” Adult
red-shouldered hawks have brownish heads, reddish chests, and pale bellies
with reddish bars. They search for prey while perched on the treetops or
soaring over woodlands. When they sight prey, they kill it by dropping
directly onto it from the air.
Learn more about this common Florida North American raptor.