Red Tailed Hawk?

Here are 2 photos of a juvenile red tail taken in August.

From the photo, it is hard to tell exactly what it is and there is nothing to compare for scale/size.
Could be a Juv. RT or a Broadwing..the eye looks darker than a typical red tail..

Good reference book: Photographic Guide to North Americal Raptors, by Wheeler and Clark

Thanks for posting the hawk!!!

Originally Posted by Inkpen

Here are 2 photos of a juvenile red tail taken in August.

From the photo, it is hard to tell exactly what it is and there is nothing to compare for scale/size.
Could be a Juv. RT or a Broadwing..the eye looks darker than a typical red tail..

Good reference book: Photographic Guide to North Americal Raptors, by Wheeler and Clark

Thanks for posting the hawk!!!

That is a beautiful picture of the hawk in wingspan. Thanks for posting Inkpen.

Thanks...we are trying to document ALL raptors rescued to help with identification of species in this area.
There are so many phases in coloration it is confusing!!

This one suffered from wind trauma, got knocked down, could not eat..
But after some TLC and room service, made a full recovery and was released.
This hawk went to Wildlife Rescue in Hampstead, MD. for treatment.

[Rael]

Originally Posted by rack'm

I didn't see anywhere in the article that said that the tail turned red after a certain amount of time, I'd deduce that the tail is red from the beginning.

Bird Watcher's General Store
"It takes a while for Red-tailed Hawks to actually get their red tails. For the first year the bird's tail is mostly brown with stripes."

The quote may not be from a verifiable source, but it is the first I've read that said juveniles take a while to get their red tail. So I'm guessing this is what I have roaming the back yard (haven't seen the hawk this weekend yet). Interesting.

[cellsite]

Though not a bird aficionado, I did see an unusual one perched overlooking my back yard in Wildewood.

My daughter pointed it out as we left to drop her off at school. It appeared to be an owl by size, but did not turn its head in the characteristic fashion of an owl.

Upon returning from my school trip 30 minutes later, the bird was still perched in the same spot. I approached and could see it was not an owl, for sure. Still, it was rather large. It had a brownish-red breast. When it finally took off, it spread its wings and I could see the tail...black with white tips in a fan-tail fashion.

I checked the google bird identification sites, and found a duplicate when I found the red-tailed hawks. Though the colors at first did not match, I did find the rufous variety hawk has that same color pattern.

It seemed perfectly at home and unafraid. I am puzzled to know if the hawk is waiting to snack on our over-abundance of squirrels, or is waiting to munch on our two toy Pomeranians. They play outside in our fenced-in back yard most of the day. I am going to hold them indoors until I get some more feedback on whether there is a danger for them here, or not.

Anyone have any ideas on this? Thanks!