Another shot

Oh why not - it is waay to pretty not to share another shot - so here goes

It is neither a Sharp-shinned nor a Cooper's Hawk. It looks like a 1st-year Red-tailed Hawk. The belly band is pretty evident in the 2nd and 3rd picture. Great photos by the way.

BN

Thanks, BN! the belly band is what I thought was indicative of a Cooper's:-(
that's why I come here to the experts - to set me right!

I agree with BN. You indeed have a first-year Red-tailed Hawk. If you have a field guide, take a look at this bird's tail pattern and compare with Cooper's/Sharp-shinned. You'll notice it's a shorter, fatter tail with narrower banding than with Cooper's/Sharp-shinned.

Also, compare this bird's tail with an adult Red-tailed Hawk's tail (which is a rusty red color) and you'll see how we can distinguish a juvenile from an adult. They gain their red tails during their first molts (when they are one year old). This bird should be molting soon, as it hatched last year.