HOME RANGE AND HABITAT USE OF SUBURBAN RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS IN SOUTHWESTERN OHIO

Abstract

We measured the home ranges and habitat use of 11 Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) during the breeding season and 9 during the nonbreeding season in suburban Ohio, using standard telemetry techniques. Mean home ranges, calculated using the adaptive kernel method (95% isopleth), were 90 ha ;pm 11 SE during the breeding season, 189 ha ;pm 33 SE during the nonbreeding season, and 165 ha ;pm 24 SE for the annual home range. Males and females did not differ significantly in home range size. We examined habitat use by hawks by classifying the habitat where birds were observed perching. Habitat used by hawks differed significantly from that available within home ranges for all birds tested. Most Red-shouldered Hawks used riparian zones and pond edges more than expected, based on availability of such habitats within their home ranges; residential areas and lawns were used less than expected or in proportion to their availability.