Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2026-53
| Common name: |
Red-shouldered Hawk |
| Scientific name: | Buteo lineatus |
| Date: | 8/29/2026 |
| Time: | 9am~ |
| Length of time observed: | 20 minutes off and on |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | immature |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Utah Lake North Shore Preserve |
| County: | Utah |
| Latilong: | 40.360208, -111.882613 |
| Elevation: | 4,500ft~ |
| Distance to bird: | 50m |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 Binoculars |
| Weather: | overcast, calm, 68F |
| Light Conditions: | Good-flat light |
| Description: Size of bird: | medium sized raptor |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Buteo |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | brown overall |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Carnivore |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Smallish raptor perched in a tree, initially thought Cooper's Hawk based
on size but binos revealed the black tail with 3 thin white tail bands
and black and white checkered wings of a Red-shouldered. Juvenile with
brown spotting across torso but more on upper breast, without a distinct
torso band. Later seen in flight as it soared with a Red-tailed Hawk,
notably smaller with shorter wings and a longer tail, heavy speckling
bellow with prominent white crescent pale translucent windows in the
primaries. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Silent |
| Behavior: | Initially perched in dead snags, then flew of to east, later seen in flight interacting with a Red-tailed Hawk |
| Habitat: | Riparian-dense willows where Dry Creek flows into Utah Lake, but open shoreline with sandy beaches and mudflats |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Red-tailed Hawk-larger with a shorter tail and longer wings, light
morphs show a band across mid torso, lack black and white tail bands.
Direct comparison. Swainson's Hawk-larger and longer wings, dark flight feathers distinctive, have a pale tail with thin dark bands Broad-winged Hawk-similar but on adults the white tails bands are thicker and fewer, immatures have a pale tail with thin dark bands, lack primary windows Cooper's Hawk-tail bands are dark and pale gray, not black and white, longer tail and shorter squared wings. Lack primary windows. |
| 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: | 84102 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | I was leading a survey of the site with 7 other participants: Charles Hurd, Kris Tait, Esther Sumner, Felicia Alvarez, Dee McLaughlin and a few others |
| Date prepared: | 9/1/26 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S388005844 |