Saw first hawk in my yard in 20 years!

[chezahmed]

Hi, I live in Southern NJ near the Delaware River and Philadelphia. This morning I saw a hawk in my dogwood tree!

We have lived here over 20 years and I have never seen a raptor in our yard. I am not a birder but I look out the window a LOT.

This hawk was on a relatively low branch of a small tree between two buildings. (We are in a dense, older suburb.) It was not a huge hawk.

It flew away almost immediately after I spotted it....it probably spied me in the window. From my quick glimpse, I would describe it as quite light colored, sort of tannish all over. There was some red or russet coloring on its lower body.

I don't think it was an osprey, because based on photos online, they seem to have dark grey wings. I don't think it was a red-tail because I was following the red-tails on the Franklin Institute webcam and they looked different.

I'm wondering if this unusual sighting could have something to do with the big storm that has been pummeling areas of the country to the southwest of us.

[Jim B]

Welcome to FTB !

Yes, the storm could cause local displacement of birds.

My first guess would be a Red-shouldered Hawk based on your description.If you Google Red-shouldered Hawk you will find a lot of images. Note there is some variability in the overall "lightness / darkness" of their coloration.

If that does not look like your suspect, then Google the word "Accipiters" and see if your bird is one of them. There are three species that might show up in your area

Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus)
Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

Unfortunately some accipiters, especially immature ones look so much alike that it is something of a parlor game among birders to argue over which is which in the field.

Maybe it will come back and you will get a better look. If a hawk finds a good food supply in winter it usually hangs around a while.
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[chezahmed]

Thanks very much, Jim. From the pictures I saw, the Cooper's hawk seems to be the closest.

I hope it comes back! I will keep an eye out.