Red-shouldered Hawk. 9x12 on 140 lb watercolor paper. The red-shouldered hawk (*Buteo lineatus*) is a medium-sized raptor found throughout eastern North America and parts of California, recognized by its striking and distinctive plumage. Adults display rich, rusty-orange barring across the breast and belly, with a dark brown back and wings checkered in white. True to its name, the shoulders (the leading edge of the wings) show warm reddish-brown patches, most visible when the bird is perched. In flight, look for translucent pale crescents near the wingtips — a key field mark — along with strongly banded black-and-white tail feathers. They tend to be slightly smaller and slimmer than the more common red-tailed hawk, with a longer tail and more rounded wings. Vocal and bold, they are birds of mature, moist woodlands — often near rivers and swamps — where their loud, repeated *kee-ah* call is frequently heard echoing through the trees.
