According to my birding book, Red Shouldered Hawks get to 16", and Red Tailed Hawks get to 18". I had a pair of Red Shouldered Hawks build a nest 40 feet from my house for several years. Sure looks like a Red Shouldered Hawk to me. I can identify a Red Shouldered Hawk by their very distinctive calls. If you hear a loud, fierce territorial call, it may be a Red Shouldered Hawk.
