Red-shouldered Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus
The Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus, is a majestic raptor species that inhabits the woodlands and riparian habitats of Huntington Beach, California. With its distinctive reddish-brown shoulders and barred underparts, the Red-shouldered Hawk is easily identified in flight. These birds of prey are year-round residents in the region, nesting in tall trees near waterways. Red-shouldered Hawks primarily feed on small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, hunting from perches or soaring on thermal updrafts. Their haunting cries can often be heard echoing through the forests, especially during the breeding season in spring and summer.