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LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 09:15 PM Dec 2020

I think I saw a red shouldered hawk on my back fence here in northern Virginia.

They are common to this area as are red tailed hawks, but the coloring and body shape seemed to me to be a red shouldered hawk. I apologize for the poor quality of my photo. He looked so big and wide to me I wondered at first if he was an owl!

https://pin.it/2EnssK1


Here is a better, more close up view of this big boy.

https://pin.it/6i9AxqL

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I think I saw a red shouldered hawk on my back fence here in northern Virginia. (Original Post) LiberalLoner Dec 2020 OP
pinterest account required nt msongs Dec 2020 #1
Oh, I'm sorry. It's the only place I have to post photos. LiberalLoner Dec 2020 #2
Oh wait I put a short video of him on twitter if you have an account there. LiberalLoner Dec 2020 #3
I don't know anything about birds really but was very excited to see this big boy today LiberalLoner Dec 2020 #4
He's a beauty! happybird Dec 2020 #9
You're welcome! I was so excited to see him/her! LiberalLoner Dec 2020 #14
I keep my eye out for them BigmanPigman Dec 2020 #5
I keep my kitty inside! 👍 LiberalLoner Dec 2020 #6
You're smart. BigmanPigman Dec 2020 #7
I have bird feeders and squirrel feeders set up in my backyard, maybe the hawk wanted to eat one LiberalLoner Dec 2020 #8
Yup, that a red shouldered hawk. We have two pairs that hunt in our woods. They are difficult Nitram Dec 2020 #10
Thank you for helping me be more sure about the identity! 😍👍 LiberalLoner Dec 2020 #12
Your big boy may be a girl. 3Hotdogs Dec 2020 #11
Oh I didn't know that, thanks! 🙂 LiberalLoner Dec 2020 #13

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
4. I don't know anything about birds really but was very excited to see this big boy today
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 09:39 PM
Dec 2020

And when I looked up the coloring I thought it looked like a red shouldered hawk and I wanted to share it with you guys.

BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
5. I keep my eye out for them
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 09:43 PM
Dec 2020

whenever I took my little 7 pound dog to our favorite park . They would circle overhead for 15 minutes and they do pick up animals and smaller birds to eat. They never seem to have to even flap their wings and can silently glide for a long, long time. My neighbors all keep an eye out so we can get our pets inside if one is spotted.

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
8. I have bird feeders and squirrel feeders set up in my backyard, maybe the hawk wanted to eat one
Wed Dec 30, 2020, 10:00 PM
Dec 2020

Of my squirrels. If there is one less squirrel tomorrow I will know what happened.

Nitram

(22,663 posts)
10. Yup, that a red shouldered hawk. We have two pairs that hunt in our woods. They are difficult
Thu Dec 31, 2020, 12:27 AM
Dec 2020

to photograph because they are very shy and don't stay in open place for very long. There was one siting on a lower branch on a tree quite close to our font door this morning, but the glass door fogged up and I couldn't get a good picture. He was gone by the time I snuck around from the back door with a camera. Beautiful birds.

LiberalLoner

(9,761 posts)
12. Thank you for helping me be more sure about the identity! 😍👍
Thu Dec 31, 2020, 08:36 AM
Dec 2020

My best guess was a redshouldered hawk but I wasn’t 100% sure!

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