Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2026-74
| Common name: |
Red-shouldered Hawk |
| Scientific name: | Buteo lineatus |
| Date: | 10/4/2026 |
| Time: | 4:30pm~ |
| Length of time observed: | 10 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | immature |
| Sex: | ? |
| Location: | Callao |
| County: | Juab |
| Latilong: | 39.900067, -113.714395 |
| Elevation: | 4500ft~ |
| Distance to bird: | 5m |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 Binoculars |
| Weather: | Sunny, warm, 85F |
| Light Conditions: | Good |
| 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: |
Dee spotted a raptor sitting on a post at eye level
next to the road, I looked through the window and saw it was an immature
Red-shouldered Hawk. We kept driving and pulled off so we wouldn't spook
it, then got out and got great looks and photos. Overall a small long tailed Buteo, distinct dark and light bands in tail, the dark ones much thicker than the pale ones, 4 dark and 3 pale. Back was checkered with white spots on wings and mantle, breast was heavily marked with brown speckles, thickest on upper breast, fewer toward belly giving a bib like appearance. It then flew to another pole and we saw the white crescent panel in the primaries (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Silent |
| Behavior: | Sitting on posts next to ag field |
| Habitat: | Agriculture fields(cut Alfalfa), but a few big cottonwoods and Russian Olive thickets nearby |
| 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. 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 A Olsen |
| Observer's address: |
Address: 84105 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Alyssa Hughes, Dee McLaughlin and Jonathan Plotner were with me |
| Date prepared: | 10/15/26 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S399310972 |