Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red-shouldered Hawk
Scientific name:	Buteo lineatus
Date:	2/1/2026
Time:	4:14pm
Length of time observed:	10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	immature
Sex:	?
Location:	Syracuse
County:	Davis
Latilong:	41.081911,-112.074472
Elevation:	4,250
Distance to bird:	15m at closest
Optical equipment:	Nikon 10x42 Binoculars
Weather:	overcast, calm, 50F~
Light Conditions:	Good, flat light
Description: Size of bird:	medium sized raptor
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Hawk
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	pale brown overall
(Description:) Bill Type:	Carnivore
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I was driving on SR 177 north bound heading to Antelope Island, the new "West Davis Corridor", which goes through much farmland and is bordered on the west by the TNC Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve (where I do bird surveys), and as usually I was noting many perched and flying raptors near the road side, mainly Red-tailed Hawks and Kestrels. Then as I was getting ready to exit, mid you going over 60mph, I spotted a different looking raptor perched on the exit sign. It was notably larger than a kestrel, but lacked the torso band of a Red-tail, so I though "Coopers?", however as my brain proceed the image a few things were off (mainly white checkering in wings) then I remembered a RSHA was reported nearby a few weeks ago, and I though I better go check that out. So I drove down Bluff Road, which parallels the highway on the east, and as I got to the sign, I pulled over and got the hawk in my Binos, and sure enough it was an immature Red-shouldered Hawk. Smallish Buteo, bibbed look with a dark head and upper breast, but a paler belly, boldly checkered black and white wings, a square blocky head, and a black tail with 2 thin white bands. I got out the car to get better photos and it was fairly tame and unperturbed by me allowing a great long look and good photos. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Silent
Behavior:	Sitting on a sign during entire observation
Habitat:	Mix of residential, some open fields and ponds nearby, and open road side
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Red-tailed Hawk-larger and most light morphs show a prominent band across the middle breast, contrasting with white above and below. Lack the black white checkered wings and the black and white banded tail. Rough-legged Hawk-larger, highly variable but generally cold gray or black and white tones, have a single black and white band in the tail. Swainson's Hawk-larger, can have a bibbed look, but long wings with smooth brown on the upper side, tail pattern pale with fine black bands, should be in south america at that time. Cooper's Hawk-longer tailed with either a barred rusty torso(adults) or uniform fine streaks(immature), lack the black and white checkered wings and have a brown and gray banded tail, not black and white.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Yes, many
References consulted:	Memory
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Bryant Olsen
Observer's address:	Address: 84102
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Whitney Maxfield reported a RSHA about 1/2 mile away on 1/8/26 on eBird, listed the protocol as "banding", which I assume means they caught and banded it since its not a location banding normally takes place. The RSHA I observed was banded, so presumably the same bird. See https://ebird.org/checklist/S293203249
Date prepared:	2/2/26
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S297598597