Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red-shouldered Hawk
Scientific name:	Buteo lineatus
Date:	2/21/2023
Time:	1:00 pm
Length of time observed:	2 minutes
Number:
Age:
Sex:
Location:	River Road and Riverside drive
County:	Washington
Latilong:
Elevation:	2,700 feet
Distance to bird:	40 yards
Optical equipment:	Looking through dslr camera with 600 mm lens
Weather:	Sunny- mid 60s
Light Conditions:	Bright
Description: Size of bird:	About a foot and a half tall
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Looked liked the shape of a raptor
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	It had dark wings with white patches across its back with a bit of red near the top of the shoulders. The front of the bird was a lighter reddish- tan color.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Hooked bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	It had dark wings with white patches across its back with a bit of red near the top of the shoulders. The chest/ belly area was a lighter reddish-tan color. (see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Not heard
Behavior:	Hunting from the top of a tree
Habitat:	Trees/ brush/ alongside the virgin river
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	The main type of similar species I see in Saint George are red tailed hawks, but I knew it wasn t that since the colors were all wrong and it didn t have the distinctive belly band. So I used the Merlin identifier app and then verified with the Utah rare bird Facebook group.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	The only other time I have seen red shouldered hawks was in Maryland last year in May.
References consulted:	Merlin birding app, Facebook groups.
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Miranda crawford
Observer's address:	3288 E 3230 S St. George, UTAH 84790
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	My 6 year old son was with me.
Date prepared:	2/23/2023
Additional material:	Photo
Additional comments:	I can send a photo if needed