The Red-shouldered Hawk is a very uncommon inhabitant of south-central Canada, occurring primarily in southern Ontario, with smaller populations in southern Quebec and southwestern New Brunswick. Based on Breeding Bird Survey results, this species has shown a moderate increase in population since about 1970. In 2006, the Red-shouldered Hawk was re-assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and down-listed from Special Concern to Not at Risk based on its stable or increasing populations in both Canada and the United States (COSEWIC 2006e). Threats on the breeding and non-breeding grounds currently appear to be minimal. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Historically one of the most common hawks in eastern North America, populations decreased significantly during the 1900s, probably due to loss of large expanses of mature bottomland and riparian forest. The species appears to be susceptible to fragmentation and opening of forest habitat (Dykstra et al. 2008). However, improved forest management practices, together with the stable availability of preferred hardwood forest, have benefitted the species (Badzinski 2007). The species may also benefit from recent succession of agricultural land to forest in parts of its Ontario range (Dykstra et al. 2008).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
