HOME-RANGE AND HABITAT USE OF RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS IN GEORGIA

Home range and habitat use of Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) we re studied within a managed pine forest in the Georgia Piedmont during the breeding season of 1994. The average home-range size was 127.9 +/ - 2.4 (SD) ha for four males and 97.0 +/- 12.1 (SD) ha for three femal es. Home-range size of three breeding pairs averaged 133.0 +/- 4.5 (SD ) ha. Red-shouldered Hawks were located almost exclusively within fore sted habitats (96% of locations). The overall pattern of habitat use f or both sexes was similar. Bottomland hardwoods were used more often t han expected, and upland hardwoods were used in proportion to availabi lity at two spatial scales. Pine and non-forested habitats were used l ess often than expected relative to availability. Male and female core areas averaged 37% of the mean home-range size.