Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red-shouldered Hawk
Scientific name:	Buteo lineatus
Date:	October 15, 2026
Time:	9:20 am
Length of time observed:	35 minutes total
Number:	1
Age:	Juvenile
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Farmington Bay WMA
County:	Davis
Latilong:	40.932175, -111.942396
Elevation:	4200'
Distance to bird:	Approximately 50-250 feet
Optical equipment:	Swarovski 10x42 binoculars, Canon with 100-500 zoom lens, Spotting Scope, iPhone 16 Pro
Weather:	39F with clear skies
Light Conditions:	Bright clear skies with haze
Description: Size of bird:	Medium sized raptor
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Compact buteo
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Brown to reddish with streaks and bars
(Description:) Bill Type:	Hooked
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Reddish/brown colored hawk, smaller than a nearby Red-tailed hawk. Undersides were completely streaked with some barring, with a bib of dark streaks. Once it took flight, I could easily see its rufous underwing coverts, reddish shoulders, translucent comma on the primaries, and thin, whitish tail bands. Its quick wing beats were very distinctive. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None that I could hear.
Behavior:	When first observed it was mantling, ie. holding its wings in a circular shape, and preening at the top of a tree (see photo). It continued to preen for 20 minutes. When it basically turned itself inside out to preen, I left the bird and then approximately an hour later on the way out of the WMA, saw that the bird was still perched at the same location. When I stopped the car, it flew and landed in a tree across the road. It sat there for just enough time to get digiscope photos before it took off, flying with quick, snappy, wing beats. It circled higher and higher heading south eastward toward the mountains. After reviewing the photos, it appeared to be calling as it flew, but I couldn t hear its call.
Habitat:	Wooded area on the edge of a marsh/pond.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Red-tailed, Broad-winged, Swainson s and Cooper s hawks all eliminated once the bird took flight and I could see the combination of its unique translucent white comma-shape on its outer primaries, the narrow whitish bands on its tail and its reddish shoulders.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I ve observed this hawk species in Michigan, Texas, Virginia, Florida, California, and Davis County near Antelope Island (found by Bryant Olsen in February 2026).
References consulted:	Sibley Field Guide
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Mary K McGreal
Observer's address:	Bountiful, Utah 84010
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Colby Newman reviewed and approved the eBird checklist submission. No other birders reported this hawk.
Date prepared:	November 3, 2026
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Photos are from the eBird checklist.