Juvenile Red Tailed Hawk?

[Viurre]

SW PA, Yesterday:

 

[Avery]

I’m having trouble deciding between Red-tail and Red Shouldered. I think I see pale barring in the secondaries, but there is a shadow, and it looks the white white on the back is in the shape of a “v”. Conflicting evidence. 

[DLecy]

I'd say this is a Red-shouldered Hawk. Note that structurally, the bird is not a big, heavy-bodied buteo. It has a small bill, longish tail for a buteo, and the banding on the tail is wider, with a broad dark terminal band, whereas juv. red-tailed hawk has much thinner barring on the tail. I think both RSHA and RTHA juveniles can show a white "v" in the scaps? 

[Tony Leukering]

RSHA -- wing tips fall well short of tail tip

Edited December 11, 2020 by Tony Leukering
addition

[Viurre]

Thanks.