In the northeast, the nest site is usually a large tree in a mature deciduous or mixed stand. The nest is usually located between 20 and 60 feet (6.2 and 18.6 meters) up but may range from 10 to 200 feet (3.1 to 62 meters) high, but below the canopy, usually in the crotch of the main trunk. In conifers, the nest is usually built against the main trunk where a whorl of branches meets the trunk. Birds in southern Florida sometimes nest in cabbage palmetto or live oaks. In California, eucalyptus trees are preferred. One ground nest in Florida was reported. Nests are generally located near some body of water like a stream, swamp, lake or pond. It is not known which birds select the nest site, but nests are commonly reused for several years.
The nest is a tidy structure, unlike the straggly nest of a Broad-winged Hawk. It is generally smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk's nest, measuring 17.7 to 23.6 inches (45 to 60 centimeters) in outside diameter, 7.9 to 11.8 inches (20 to 30 centimeters) in height, about 7.9 inches (20 centimeters) for a cavity diameter, and 2.0 to 29.5 inches (5 to 75 centimeters) for a cavity depth. The exterior is composed of dead and green sticks, leaves, bark, Spanish moss (in the south), lichens, and live conifer sprigs. The inner cavity is lined with inner bark, mosses, lichens, and green sprigs. The sexes work together on a new nest and to refurbish an old one. Building and refurbishing can take four to five weeks at the beginning of the breeding season; however, after nest failure, a pair can build a nest in less than seven days. Sprigs of living vegetation, often hemlock in the northeast, are laid in nests early in the season and may act as a signal that the nest is claimed. A pair may have a second nest in its territory, used some years as an alternative. Alternative nests are also used as plucking posts and feeding platforms.
The eggs are short elliptical in shape and are white or faint bluish covered with variable brown and lavender blotches and markings. Egg measurements (for the nominate race lineatus) average 2.1 inches (54.7 millimeters) long by 1.7 inches (43.9 millimeters) wide.
The clutch ranges from two to four, averaging three eggs. The female does most of the incubating while the male delivers prey. Incubation last about 33 days per egg. Nestlings weigh about 1.2 ounces (35 grams) at birth and 1.2 pounds (534 grams) at fledging. The young are brooded almost constantly during the first seven days. Juvenal flight feathers begin to appear at seven to 10 days, followed by scapulars, wing coverts and contour plumage. The back is fully feathered first, and then the sides of the breast. The young are able to walk (on toes) and stand at 23 to 25 days. The young begin exploring nearby branches at 35 to 42 days, fledging during this time. The female may resume hunting late in the nestling period.
Post-nest care has been little studied, but two California broods were fed by their parents eight weeks after fledging and were independent at 14 to 16 weeks. These young began successful hunting by seven to eight weeks, catching mostly insects. By 10 to 13 weeks the young are catching reptiles, amphibians, and mammals.
The Red-shouldered Hawk is single-brooded but will lay a replacement clutch.
#What kind of bird uses this type of nest?;question\Q09\Q09.wav
P3ImageView
nestcoll\trecol1.bmp
nestcoll\trecol1b.bmp
ùôÇÇîÇÇ Tree - stick nests
ôÇÇîÇÇ !
!"##What kind of bird uses this type of nest?;question\Q09\Q09.wav
