Heading out this morning at 7:45 AM, I saw this bird on my roof. I had to look 3 times — the bird is huge. I have not been able to identify it with the unique coloration.
Steve Conti
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red shouldered hawk
Can’t see the head well enough in photo if it’s a hawk red shoulder/ if owl a barred owl
Falcon?
Golden Eagle – the photo here blends with the roof and trees so it looks like an owl. It’s absolutely huge. I’ve seen it perched on Main Street roofs the last few weeks. When it swoops the wing span is unbelievable.
J I originally thought the same. Because of his color on the back. Years ago they would sit on a telephone pole across the street. He would pick off rabbits. When he took flight it was amazing.
https://i.natgeofe.com/n/e51ee56d-bbf1-471a-a1f8-88755edfb79d/6308569_square.jpg
Great Horned Owl.
Looks like an owl to me
The red shoulder, barred back, light lower belly, and head shape are all pretty diagnostic of a red shouldered hawk. Other possibilities mentioned above are 1)rarely seen and unlikely to be out on an open perch in the day (owls, except for barred owls but color is wrong), or 2) are exceedingly rare in New England, (golden eagle; 45 seen this year at Wachusetts on the migratory flight path for eastern Canada; versus 700 bald eagles, and Hopkinton is out of the migratory flight path), or 3) too big and color wrong for a falcon.
Picts:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/photo-gallery/306107041
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/photo-gallery/297363481
It’s a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk. There is no question about it. 😉
It’s a Red-shouldered Hawk. There is no question about it. 😉
After reviewing all the comments and additional google images, I’m fairly confident it’s a red shouldered hawk.