Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), Patagonia, Santa Cruz County

This Red-shouldered Hawk was discovered by Melody Kehl on 12 March 2008 behind the Paton's house in Patagonia.  It was photographed by Matt Brown on 16 March 2008 about 150 yards upstream from Sonoita creek crossing near Paton's in Patagonia.

As expected in Arizona this is an immature "California" (B. l. elegans) Red-shouldered Hawk.  Key points include its plain, reddish-brown face and highly-checkered wings and back which rule out the other subspecies.  The white-striped secondaries rule out other buteos.  The breast barring, lack of well developed red shoulders and off-white mottling and tail stripes indicate subadult plumage. 

Red-shouldered Hawk is a rare but increasing migrant, winter visitor and very rare resident.  It is an ABC review species.

Submitting photos to AZFO does not constitute reporting a rare bird for consideration as an official record. To ensure that a record becomes official, details or photos of Sketch Details Species should be sent to the Editors of North American Birds and a full report of Review Species should be submitted to the Arizona Bird Committee. Most rare birds are under _documented and subsequent observers of a rarity are always encouraged to submit reports and additional photos, especially for birds that are challenging to identify.

16 March 2008, photo by Matt Brown