The Red-shouldered Hawk is a medium-sized buteo that is distinguished by the numerous black and white bands on its tail and the distinct red shoulder on the adult bird. It is a bird of lowland forests, especially those found along rivers. Unlike the larger Red-tailed Hawk, red-shoulders spend much of their time within the forest and are thus seen much less frequently. In Iowa, red-shoulders are found mainly in lowland forests in northeastern Iowa although they also are found elsewhere in the state. Their numbers seemed to decline rapidly in the mid 1900s, although it is not clear what factors caused that decline. Habitat loss and perhaps competition with the Red-tailed Hawk have been suggested as possible factors. Although it is still considered endangered in Iowa, in recent years it seems to have done fairly well and has at least held its own in most of its Iowa range.
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indicates a designated IBA.