Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2023-01
| Common name: |
Red-shouldered Hawk |
| Scientific name: | Buteo lineatus |
| Date: | 1/2/23 |
| Time: | 2:00 pm |
| Length of time observed: | 31 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Immature |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | Boulder, UT |
| County: | Garfield |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | 6,300 ft |
| Distance to bird: | Closest was within 50 ft |
| Optical equipment: | Zeiss Conquest binoculars, 8x |
| Weather: | Cold |
| Light Conditions: | Partly cloudy |
| Description: Size of bird: | slightly smaller than a red-tailed hawk |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | slender Buteo, longish tail |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Brown, rufous underwing coverts |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Dark streaks evenly down entire breast, thick dark bands across longish
tail. Seen in flight twice, where pale translucent crescents on outer
primaries were immediately obvious, as was the rufous tint of the
underwing coverts. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | |
| Behavior: | First seen chasing off a slightly larger perched red-tailed hawk in a tree, where it then perched itself and I got the first photo. Soon flew off over the pasture to a nearby telephone pole, and quickly moved on to another telephone pole farther away. |
| Habitat: | Perched in a tree and atop a telephone pole near open cow pastures. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
It's size compared to the red-tail it chased off, plus the breast fully covered in streaks, the thick tail-bands, pale primary crescents and rufous underwings led me to believe there was no other possibility. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I used to live in Pennsylvania and encountered this species regularly, including a trip there this past spring where I saw one at close range. I see red-tails everyday and immediately knew this one was different. |
| References consulted: | Sibley guide and eBird |
| Description from: |
From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Ryan McDermott |
| Observer's address: | |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | |
| Date prepared: | 1/3/22 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |
|