Well spotted and captured David Exposed really well considering it is under the canopy of the Tree`s, any idea what make and model it is?
Great capture David, well done.
It looks like a red tailed hawk (aka chicken hawk) quite common and widespread across the USA.
Graham I have never seen a Read Tailed in Florida but we do have a lot of Red shouldered hawks. Please don't ask me what the difference is. This one was taken in Oregon. I do have a couple of Red shoulder ones lets see if I can add one
So I guess that they are not that uncommonthe ****ing things are everywhere
'Tis indeed a Red tail Hawk
As to it being a juvenile, quite possibly, the only real way to tell is to look at
the train (tail) it goes red after the 1st moult, as an eyas though its just brown.
I must admit that Florida does seem a little southerly for the red tail
(but I will check with a falconry friend in SD on that)
Edit
So I guess that they are not that uncommon
The red Shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus)
are about half the size
of the Red tails (Buteo jamaicensis)
These being around 2lb for the male and around 3lb for the females.
Nicely caught
I was told by the professor at the rehab center that the Red tails yellow eye and the band on the waste was not yet complete is what made it a juvi.