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Florida Red-shouldered Hawk
Breeding Range--Texas, Florida, and on the Atlantic coast to South Carolina.
A southern sub-species of the red-shouldered hawk; it is smaller, the head is lighter, and the under parts are not so distinctly barred.
The nest is placed in large trees, and is made of twigs, green leaves, and Spanish moss. The eggs resemble those of the preceding species. This is a very common bird in Florida, being found throughout the pine woods and particularly near the rivers and in the cypress swamps, where it may frequently be seen perched on the lower branch of a tree, watching for its prey. It is a remarkably tame bird, and will seize any small rodent or other prey without the slightest regard for the onlooker. I am inclined to believe this southern variety destroys far more birds than does the more northern red-shouldered hawk.
The breeding season begins in March.