CLOSED: Bird of Prey

South Florida

What is the name of this small bird of prey?

Thanks.

Red-shouldered Hawk, a very bedraggled individual!

Resin

We see the large Red-shouldered Hawks perching high in the pine trees. My husband spotted this hawk on a low branch close to the ground in our yard and he took the photo. My husband said this hawk was small so I did not even think it was a RSH. Could it be a juvenile?

I thought the bird was quite bedraggled also!

It looks small, because a lot of the feathers are missing and/or matted down. Much of the apparent size of many birds is just airspace between the feathers ;-)

Although owls are extreme in this respect, this pic gives a good demonstration of what I mean:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Strix_nebulosa_plumage.jpg

Resin

[quote=

Although owls are extreme in this respect, this pic gives a good demonstration of what I mean:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Strix_nebulosa_plumage.jpg

Resin
[/quote]

Great link. I was reading about this only a couple of days ago in Tim Birkhead's book, "Bird Sense".