Red-shouldered Hawk on hunting perch in oak tree

A Red-shouldered Hawk has been hunting on the hill behind the cabin I share with my husband Sam in the foothills near Grass Valley, California. I have caught it flying low over the grass a couple of times during the past month. The last time, I watched it land in a nearby oak.

I brought my camera outside and approached the raptor’s perch with care. It didn’t appear to be bothered by my presence, but I chose not to get too close! These images capture the appearance of this bird of prey in the early afternoon on a cloudy January day.

The Red-shouldered Hawk is found in the eastern part of the US as well as along the Pacific coast. It is slightly smaller than the Red-tailed Hawk.