Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2024-86
| Common name: |
Red-shouldered Hawk |
| Scientific name: | Buteo lineatus |
| Date: | 11/29/2024 |
| Time: | 10:33 AM |
| Length of time observed: | Thirty minutes (Notified nearby birders and waited for them to arrive) |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Immature/1st-year |
| Sex: | Unknown |
| Location: | Genola, Utah |
| County: | Utah |
| Latilong: | 39.986801, -111.859223 |
| Elevation: | Approximately 4500' |
| Distance to bird: | 15-50 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Vortex Viper HD 10x50 binos, Nikon Z8 camera with 180-600mm lens |
| Weather: | Cool, sunny day |
| Light Conditions: | Morning sun was directly on the bird when I first observed it |
| Description: Size of bird: | Smallish buteo compared to the Red-tailed and Ferruginous Hawks I'd been seeing prior to this bird. |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Compact buteo with a bit of a longer tail that extended well beyond the wingtips |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Brown/rufous, black, and white. |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Hooked |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
I first noticed that it had brown/rufous streaking on the chest that
formed a bib. A similar color formed bars on the sides of the belly that
became a little less distinct at the center of the belly. The bird
rotated as it remained perched in the same location. That allowed me to
see the black and white checkering in the secondaries along with the
thick black bands in the tail, separated by thinner white bands. The
tail extended well beyond the primary tips. When it chased off a
Cooper's Hawk that flew into the same line of trees, I noticed white
crescents in the outer wings. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | This bird did not vocalize |
| Behavior: | Perched except when chasing off a Cooper's Hawk. |
| Habitat: | A short line of cottonwood trees bordered by open fields |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Broad-winged Hawk would not show checkering in the secondaries. An immature or 1st-year bird would show narrow tail bands. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I've found a few Red-shouldered in Utah over the years. I've seen several in California and Nevada. |
| References consulted: | Sibley and Hawkwatch Raptor ID apps |
| Description from: |
From memory From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Jeff Cooper |
| Observer's address: | |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | I had just separated from KC Childs, Clarissa Chipman, and Esther Sumner about twenty minutes before finding this bird, so I called them to let them know its location. They were able to observe and photograph the bird as well. |
| Date prepared: | 12/1/2024 |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: | Here is a link to my checklist for this observation: https://ebird.org/checklist/S204023910 |