Red-shouldered Hawks are year-round residents in Florida, and the Joe Overstreet area did not disappoint in providing an opportunity to photograph one. These medium-sized raptors are slightly smaller than the Red-tailed Hawks commonly seen in New England. Interestingly, adult Red-shouldered Hawks in Florida exhibit a paler coloration compared to their counterparts in other regions, featuring a gray head and lighter barring on the chest. This pattern held true for the hawk I saw during my time in Florida.

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Displaying clever behavior, this hawk initially appeared poised to take off to the right, fixating its attention in that direction. Yet, without any warning—contrary to the usual behavior of raptors, which often "poop" just before takeoff—it launched in the opposite direction. While I would have preferred the image without the wire in the frame, utility poles remain a favored perch for hawks, offering them an elevated vantage point to spot prey.

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Red-shouldered Hawks typically inhabit bottomland forests, wooded streamsides, and swamps. However, as noted by Audubon, their numbers have significantly declined across much of eastern North America due to habitat loss. Populations in Florida and California, on the other hand, appear to have adapted to more open habitats, making them more visible. It was in one of these open areas where I observed this hawk staking out its territory.​​​