Saw this guy perched in the tree recently. Stayed there long enough for me to get my spotting scope out and take a picture thru it with my phone.

Best I can come up with using my Birds of Michigan Field Guide is that it's an American Kestrel. Hoping someone on the forum can verify my ID or can give me a correct ID.

Usually see red tail hawks or rarely a bald eagle soaring around the area.

How big would you estimate the raptor to be? Kestrel are pretty small and the ones around have distinct cheek/facial patterns I don’t see on the bird pictured.

The app I used said it is a Red Shouldered Hawk.

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
The app I used said it is a Red Shouldered Hawk.

I think that is correct.

Kestrels (formerly known as Sparrow Hawks) are smaller and have a different color pattern.