I’m looking for identification assistance on this beautiful raptor, who was soaring over Governor Bridge Natural Area this morning. Sorry about the photo quality. The lighting was terrible this morning. I’ve looked through my field guides over and over. At first, I thought it might be a Peregrin Falcon, but I’m just not sure. I thought the ‘dots’ on the underwing coverts at the top and bottom of each respective wing would be diagnostic features, but I’m stumped. To see details, you’ll probably have to click on each photo. Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Flights of Wonder 
It’s a beautiful bird, but I am afraid that I can’t help with the identification.
I’m pretty stumped, too, Mike!
My best guess would be a Ferruginous Hawk.
Ok, back to my guides.
However, after looking at my Sibleys guide, it could very well be a variation of a Red-tailed Zhawk.
Hmmm… the tail seems long for a Red-Tailed…
Bob, I’m looking at the juvenile Broad-Winged Hawks, light morph. What do you think?
(Without the z)
I don’t know… I like the Zhawk best of all!! đŸ™‚
The problem with the Broadwing is the bars on the tail. Your photo has no bars, that’s why I am looking at the Red-tailed, perhaps the Harlan dark juvenile.
Hmmm… ok, back to the field guides…
Sorry, I can’t help you out either. It’s more than likely a first year hawk that hasn’t gotten all its adult plumage yet.
Yes, I agree it’s a first-year hawk. Thought I knew the Red-Tails and Red-Shoulders pretty well, but what I knew were the variations in our area of adult plumages. This business of bird I.D. will be one I spend the rest of my life learning. Yesterday, I was leaning to juvenile Broad-Winged, Bob is leaning toward Red-Tailed, I’ll be back on the computer later today still trying to figure it out!! Thanks for chiming in!