Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red-shouldered Hawk
Scientific name:	Buteo lineatus
Date:	09/27/26
Time:	first light
Length of time observed:	a couple of minutes between multiple sightings
Number:	1
Age:	HY
Sex:
Location:	River Lane
County:	Utah Co
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	20 yards at the closest, and farther on different occasions.
Optical equipment:	Vortex Diamondbacks HD 10x42, Canon R5 w/ 200-800mm lens
Weather:	clear, slight breeze.
Light Conditions:	low light, as the sun had not yet risen.
Description: Size of bird:	Bigger than the COHA it was seen with, small for a Buteo
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Buteo
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	dark, well patterned, mostly browns and slight reds
(Description:) Bill Type:	Raptor bill.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Seen at first light while driving to Sandy Beach, perched out conspicuously on a dead tree limb. My first impressions were of a small Buteo with a light belly and gradually darkening up the chest into the face. Once I put up my binoculars, it spun around irritated and showed off the strongly white checkered flight feathers, and white barred tail. Immediately after, a coopers hawk came into the mob, and chased it off farther and to the other side of the river, giving nice comparison looks as it did. The RSHA was noticeably bigger and bulkier, and shorter tailed. Sibley lists these two species as being roughly the same size id imagine that's the tail length or something to that effect. The RSHA was much longer and broader winged, and less speedy/agile in flight. It showed a dark brown iris, which matched the color of the head. (see photo)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Gave typical string of calls twice that I heard later, while walking to the mudflats. Rapid loud cries repeated 5-6 times in succession.
Behavior:	mostly being chased by the COHA
Habitat:	Was seen in the large deciduous trees of River lane.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	COHA - compared directly, to which the RSHA was bigger, bulkier, shorter tailed, had three white tail bands, and a dark iris. I've seen COHA show white checkering on the scaps in the past, but never as densely on the flight feathers. RTHA/SWHA/FEHA - the white tail bands and checkered flight feathers sufficiently rule out these three. BWHA - checkered flight feathers, and the gradual dense chest to face pattern rule out BWHA.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I've seen many RSHA in California, as well as a hand full in Utah. Many many of our expected Buteo here in Utah, as well as Accipiters.
References consulted:	Sibley, Macaulay Library
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	McKay Olson
Observer's address:
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	9/27/26
Additional material:	Photos https://ebird.org/checklist/S397040489
Additional comments: