I see no orange on this bird, either. I thought, first thing, "Crested Caracara," then "Northern Goshawk," based on its overall coloring and the habitat. The habitat seems wrong for a Caracara, but we had one visiting us in redwood country not long ago, eating at several deer carcasses along Highway One and the bird appeared several weeks later (assuming it was the same one) in Oregon. . . While a Northern Goshawk *would* be feathered farther down on the legs, take a closer look at this photo, then turn to page 190 in the NGFG, and check out the feathering on the legs of the Goshawk (imm) in the painting: the feathers are farther down, yes, but they are sweeping back, as in the bird in the photo. A Northern Goshawk *would* go after prey as large as a squirrel. I sincerely doubt a Cooper's would take prey that large. . .

It was a Coopers Hawk. I have a CD with bird sounds of PA and I was not sure it was going to help, but listened away as I cleaned my house, and there it was! The sound was unmistakable! I looked it up in the books, and even though I was not able to see the markings that day, I say the silouette for like 5 minutes, and it matched the one in the book perfectly! I am really going to get into ID's by sound, sometimes it takes more than just appearance, it is sound, environment, behavior, then it all comes together. :o)

I cannot really help on this one.May be a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Luc

It's very hard to tell from this photo, but the bird does look more 'stocky' like a Buteo. -O-