• An immature Broad-winged Hawk
• An immature Red-shouldered Hawk
• Or.........?

One person wrote

"Hawks from Every Angle states that "Eastern Red-shouldered Hawks are extremely similar to Juvenile Broad-winged ....." Birds of North America on line, in their introductory paragraphs for both Red-Shouldered and Broad-winged Hawks, includes points to consider to separate the ID of juveniles of these species from one another. (see below) The Canadian Peregrine Foundation posts an online clear photo of an immature hawk about which they state "we are fairly confident that this is an immature Red-shouldered Hawk." (fairly) So it ain't simple. I am learning how variable the field marks in juvenile hawks can be. I am learning why many birders have mentioned the difficulty of perched juvenile hawks.

Red-shoulders are "usually uniformly marked on the undersides [Ligouri] - but go to his Hawks from Every Angle p.44 and see two differently marked individuals. Broad-winged "usually are more marked on the sides and belly, but some individuals are virtually unmarked underneath and streaking can be "light to heavy throughout the body (Hawks from Every Angle - pp.46-47) From BNA, re:BWH juveniles, "amount of ventral streaking highly variable"

BNA states the two species are best separated "by shape, Red-shouldered with longer tail [then again, juvy BWH has longer, more narrow tail than adult of its own species!], more rounded wing-tips and by flight characteristics." Red-shoulders can have more rapid, accipiter-like wing flapping, and tend to hold wings as if stretched forward. Broad-winged would flap slower and hold wings more perpendicular to body. All Red-shoulders, even juveniles, should show the crescent across the primaries if back-lit properly. Of course, this mainly moves ID to flight, and we are going mostly by photos.

BNA states also that the juvy red-shoulder's tail bands should all be of equal width. We can not see those well, though I think the angle of the sun is preventing a better view. The bands are faintly apparent through the tail. The paler bands seem wider to me. Also the terminal band seems indistinct, possibly because the "pale" bands are so dark themselves. This matches illustrations in Nat Geo and Hawks from Every Angle, for BWH. Powdermill Banding station has posted a pic of a BWH caught there; a 2yr old retaining one juvenile rectrice - the terminal band is not as prominent on that feather as it is on its adult tail feathers.

White feathers on the nape and variable white on the back fits both species, according to BNA. Juvenile Red-shoulder may or may not show a red "shoulder." Many references, including all the ones already mentioned, and on-line photos, show both Red-shoulder and Broad-winged juveniles with a very noticeable, if not "distinct" superciliary line. 2/3 size of a Red-tailed Hawk is 600+ gm, which fits Red-Shouldered Hawk, would be very large for a Broad-winged, which usually tops out at 400 or so gm. Lengthwise a Broad-wing would be closer to 2/3 Red-tailed size. Red-shouldered would be more likely than Broad-winged at the locale this time of year. Of course, Broad-winged is possible. BNA states BW juveniles "occasionally winter......in coastal Texas...."