The Pacific Coast race of the Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus elegans) has been the object of ornithological concern for many years. Shortly after the turn of the century, Willett (1912) noted its apparent increasing scarcity in portions of coastal Southern California, and Dawson (1924) thought the species was “sharply on the wane”. More recently, the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife (1968) included it on a list of “status undetermined” wildlife — possibly rare or endangered but sufficient information not available. After a partial examination of distribution records, Cohen (1970) concluded that western Red-shouldered Hawk numbers were reduced and would continue to decline due to habitat loss. However, Brown (1971) analyzed Christmas Bird Count data and could see no significant change in California populations from 1950 through 1969. Therefore, current status has remained unclear.
From January 1970 through July 1972, I continued to add to the Red-shouldered Hawk record by personal observation, continuing review of the literature, and through inspection of the field notes of cooperators. Results of this review are discussed below.