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

摘要

Home range and habitat use of Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) were 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 females. Home-range size of three breeding pairs averaged 133.0 ± 4.5 (SD) ha. Red-shouldered Hawks were located almost exclusively within forested habitats (96% of locations). The overall pattern of habitat use for both sexes was similar. Bottomland hardwoods were used more often than expected, and upland hardwoods were used in proportion to availability at two spatial scales. Pine and non-forested habitats were used less often than expected relative to availability. Male and female core areas averaged 37% of the mean home-range size.