Hawk in Vermont in May

[The Bird Nuts]

We're thinking young molting Broad-winged, but would appreciate confirmation or correction.

[akiley]

I think you're right, over Red-shouldered. 

[The Bird Nuts]

Thanks, akiley!

[Nighthawk01]

I first though Red-tailed, but after looking closer, it’s a young Red-shouldered.

[The Bird Nuts]

Just now, Nighthawk01 said:

I first though Red-tailed, but after looking closer, it’s a young Red-shouldered.

Why Red-shouldered over Broad-winged?

[akiley]

2 minutes ago, Nighthawk01 said:

I first though Red-tailed, but after looking closer, it’s a young Red-shouldered.

It's definitely not a Red-tailed, but what makes you say RS over BW?

Edit- Sniped again!

Edited June 23, 2018 by akiley

[akiley]

I like BW here due to the pattern of the tail bands (subtle, but I believe it supports BW here) and the breast pattern.  If you look closely, the breast pattern I'm seeing looks like the beginnings of the typical pattern that adult BW show.  It's hard for me to explain, but I'm definitely getting a BW impression here. 

Edited June 23, 2018 by akiley
Typo

[Nighthawk01]

I honestly was paying more attention to the coloring of the undersides than the wing shape. Looking at wing shape, I agree with BW. Sorry for the confusion.

[Tony Leukering]

The bird does not have Red-shouldered's translucent crescent

[Charlie Spencer]

Gods, this bird could be dead by now.  

[Trevor L.]

Bruh, I replied to this before I switched accounts. That’s a long time. 

Edited February 2, 2020 by Trevor L.

[AlexHenry]

In Northern New England / Great Lakes, Broad-winged Hawks are quite common - in large areas of contiguous forest, certainly much more numerous than any other buteo - while Red-shouldered Hawks can be fairly difficult to find.

Red-shouldered Hawks are much more common in the south east part of their range and in California.