I think these two photos are illustrative. (Not surprisingly perhaps, there aren't many photos on-line showing only the backs of immature buteos.).

https://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/detail/an-immature-red-shouldered-hawk/ <https://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/detail/an-immature-red-shouldered-hawk/>



https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2015/07/14/juvenile-red-tailed-hawk-in-flight-and-perched/ <https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2015/07/14/juvenile-red-tailed-hawk-in-flight-and-perched/>


Fir Island bird: https://flic.kr/p/2n82Wbg <https://flic.kr/p/2n82Wbg>


On the Fir Island bird, the individual feathers on the back are boldly patterned in white and brown in alternating bands, like the photo of the immature Red-shouldered Hawk in the photo above. In contrast, the immature Red-tailed Hawk has pale edges to feathers, with the rest of the individual feathers being rather plain, without bands of white and brown. The pale edges of feathers on the immature Red-tailed Hawk form the typical "V" pattern on the back side (scapulars) of sitting bird, unlike the Fir Island bird.







> On Mar 12, 2022, at 5:01 PM, Steve Hampton <stevechampton at GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>

> Interesting photograph. I lean toward Red-tailed Hawk based on:

> yellow iris

> the size of the eye relative to the bill and head

> number of tail bars (at least 7)

> the tail bars are of mostly uniform width (on Red-sh the distal bars seem to get thicker)

>

>

> On Sat, Mar 12, 2022 at 1:53 PM Jeff Gilligan <jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com <mailto:jeffgilligan10 at gmail.com>> wrote:

> I think we can eliminate the yellow sere or lack of it, as being an important ID factor. For example, see this immature Red-tailed Hawk has an obvious yellow sere: https://www.audubon.org/magazine/fall-2016/six-quick-questions-help-you-identify-red-tailed <https://www.audubon.org/magazine/fall-2016/six-quick-questions-help-you-identify-red-tailed>

>

> A quick answer, without a leading question, from a very good Santa Barbara birder was that it is an immature Red-shouldered. He wasn't committed to that as positive though. He has Red-Shouldered Hawks that nest behind hs house.

>

> Jeff Gilligan

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>> On Mar 12, 2022, at 9:24 AM, J. Acker <Owler at sounddsl.com <mailto:Owler at sounddsl.com>> wrote:

>>

>> I'm not so sure about imm Red-Shouldered. This bird appears to be a buteo, and a chunky one. Red shoulders are more slender / less bulky looking. Also the number and width of the tail bars is not matching up with the photos I have viewed online of red-shouldered. Additionally, the cere should be yellowish in a red-shouldered and this photo has an all dark bill and cere.

>> But I am confused as to what this bird is also.

>>

>> J. Acker

>> Owler at sounddsl.com <mailto:Owler at sounddsl.com>

>> Bainbridge Island, WA

>> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows

>> From: BURT CUNNINGHAM <mailto:burtc_8 at msn.com>

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>

> --

> ​Steve Hampton​

> Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)

>

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