Frugivory in the red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus elegans)

Red‑shouldered hawks typically consume mammals in northern regions and amphibians or reptiles in the southern U.S., but new observations from Santa Barbara, California, reveal an unusual behavior: repeated consumption of avocado fruit from 2020–2024. This study documents these events, describes associated foraging behaviors and compares them with other rare cases of raptor frugivory. With this addition, 33 raptor species worldwide are now known to consume fruit. These findings broaden understanding of dietary flexibility in raptors and highlight the ecological complexity of urban and agricultural landscapes.