After looking in my Audubon Guide, I googled Red Shouldered Hawk. I think that is it. Google it and see what you think...oh heck, click the link below...

:-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Google of Red Shoulder Hawk

I agree with tam ...tho I'm sure no expert, but a red shouldered pair lives around here...they're always raiding my birdfeeders ...looks like your lil buddy there, JYG. Hey Tam! in Rockledge here.

While looking up Red Shouldered Hawk, I came across this picture. Pretty spectacular.

Here is a link that might be useful: Close up of red shouldered hawk

Definitely a red-shouldered hawk, our most common hawk in Florida. They will often visit backyards, usually checking for rodents, lizards, snakes, etc, but they will also take birds from time to time. Not their normal prey, but when the opportunity presents itself, they'll go for whatever they can catch. I have a pair who show up for a few weeks every spring, and while they are in my oaks, the other birds steer clear of my yard.

Nice pic!

Marcia

I just have a question for any of you. I am from Gulf Breeze, FL aka Lower Alabama. 2 days ago my boyfriend spotted a REAL Pink Flamingo...of course he didn't have a camera, but he knows his birds so I believe him. When I got home, I decided to look on the internet to see if, by chance, i could find where any others had been spotted near hear. Sure enough...on my firse search...a news story pops up " Pink flamingos aren't a common sight on the Gulf Coast, but a man assessing damage from Hurricane Gustav caught a pair of the birds wading near Long Beach, Mississippi." There is video of the birds on wkrg.com. My question is: Where did these birds come from and can they survive here? Thanks for all your help.

Jessica

Here is a link that might be useful: Pink Flamingos Gulf Coast

I'd be willing to bet they were "relocated" by the storms. There is a small, nonbreeding flock of wild flamingoes in the Everglades, around Snake Bight; and there is a semi-feral flock at Hialeah racetrack in Miami area. There are various types of flamingoes in outdoor exhibits at zoos and animal parks throughout the state, as well. Any of them could be carried along on the storm for quite a distance, though the wild ones in the 'glades would be the most likely candidates.

(I'm assuming that the pink birds were actually flamingoes and not roseate spoonbills, which are spread throughout the state and do breed here.)

Just guessing here, but I think that's what the most likely cause of flamingoes in your area would be. Lots of birds are blown off course in tropical storms and hurricanes.

Marcia

Funny this came up today, as I just had a pair of red shoulder hawks in my garden this morning. They killed a mockingbird and there was quite a comotion with the other birds for some time. A blue jay kept trying to sneak in a peck at it's tail.

Just a bit of trivia: I'm told the flock at Hialeah racetrack are in the opening scene of the original Miami Vice.