Some birds have adapted to humans and what we have done to their habitat better than others. 

Pigeons, house sparrows and mallards have obviously fared well and thrive in urban environments. Other birds, including many songbirds, have not. Why else would the populations of so many songbirds have decreased so dramatically over the last several decades?

An experience at work the other day got me thinking about how birds adapt to human interference. I was working in my office when I heard a co-worker calling my name in whispered urgency. I rushed out to see what the commotion was about and saw a red-shouldered hawk perched on top of an Infinity SUV right on the other side of the window. 

The impressive bird of prey was a mere 12 feet away from the small crowd that had now gathered inside the building — urgent whispers have a way of drawing a crowd. Everyone broke out their phones and took pictures of the specimen. Red-shouldered hawks nest on the property at work, so seeing the bird was not unusual, but seeing it perched on a car was certainly different.

Someone from the other side of the building opened a door to the outside and the bird left the Infinity and landed on my car several yards away. I have to admit, it was pretty neat to see a red-shouldered hawk sitting on my car. Still on alert from the door opening, the hawk lingered for only a minute or two before flying off and disappearing into the woods. I was relieved it didn’t leave a parting gift on my roof when it took off.

I’m not sure why a hawk would perch on cars like our friend. It wasn’t hunting or seeking prey as it was facing the building, not the open space of the parking lot. It wasn’t a young inexperienced hawk as it had beautiful, adult plumage. One possible explanation is that it was sunning itself. The parking lot offers a sunny retreat from the woods and the hawk did spread its wings a few times as if to take it all in. 

I also found it interesting that it was a red-shouldered hawk. Red-tailed hawks are the hawk species best known for adapting to humans as they nest on high-rise buildings in places such as New York City. I have noticed over the past several years that red-shouldered hawks have become much more visible and numerous in New England. I think I see more red-shouldered hawks now than red-tailed hawks. 

Red-shouldered hawks are even more common in the southern U.S. Any trip I take to Florida is bound to include dozens of sightings. They are medium-sized buteos (family of hawks with large bodies and broad wings) with varying degrees of rusty red on their shoulders, chest and belly. They are smaller than red-tailed hawks and larger than broad-winged hawks. 

Count red-shouldered hawks among the birds that have adapted well to humans. I often see them perched on electrical wires, fences and now even cars. I don’t think they’ll ever rival pigeons or house sparrows for masters of the urban jungle, but I’m glad to see them thriving, nonetheless.