Blonde Hawk

 

Florida Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus extimus) 
showing its pale head and light breast. 
Palm Beach County, Florida. 

There are some odd looking Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) in Florida.  Red-shouldered Hawks are found across Eastern North America and along the west coast.  Most Red-shouldered Hawks have dark brown heads, reddish breasts, barred tails, a checkerboard pattern on the wings and the reddish-brown feathers on their shoulders that given them their name.  But the hawks in Florida are unique.  They are distinguished by light breasts and pale heads. I think they look like blondes.  These Florida hawks belong to their own subspecies, Buteo lineatus extimus, and are found across the peninsula. 

Red-shouldered Hawks, in Florida and elsewhere, are medium sized raptors that are usually associated with forests near freshwater. They often sit quietly on a perch watching for small mammals, insects, birds or reptiles then swoop in to catch their prey.  Red-shouldered Hawks are quite vocal, giving loud, repeated screams.  In the mating season, pairs have impressive mating flights that involve soaring and calling.  They make stick nests high in trees and typically lay 3-4 eggs.  Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks can be told from adults by their heavily streaked breasts.     

The eastern subspecies of Red-shouldered Hawk 
(Buteo linearus linearus) has a dark brown head and 
reddish breast. 
Rowan County, North Carolina. 

Eastern subspecies of Red-shouldered Hawk preparing to take flight.
Rowan County, North Carolina. 

Eastern subspecies of Red-shouldered Hawk lifting off.
Rowan County, North Carolina. 

Eastern form of Red-shouldered Hawk on nest.
Rowan County, North Carolina. 

Eastern form of Red-shouldered Hawk 
hunting from a perch. 
Rowan County, North Carolina. 

Immature Red-shouldered Hawk,
eastern subspecies.
Rowan County, North Carolina. 

The Florida Red-shouldered Hawks are smaller than their northern and western relatives and can use more open habitats than others of their species.  These include the Sawgrass (Cladium mariscus) marshes of the Everglades and prairies with ponds and scattered trees. 

Florida Red-shouldered Hawk.
Palm Beach County, Florida. 

The Florida Red-shouldered Hawks not only look different from other Red-shouldered Hawks they are genetically distinct.  This divergence from the rest of the continent’s Red-shouldered Hawks probably happened when the Florida birds were isolated during the last ice age.   

Florida form of Red-shouldered Hawk.
Palm Beach County, Florida. 

I always enjoy seeing these blonde Red-shouldered Hawks when visiting Florida.  They look quite elegant perched on branch, looking for the next meal.