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.

Download and use the Merlin app from the Cornell ornithology school. Much easier. It will listen to birds and ID them, so you don’t need a closeup image.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Download and use the Merlin app from the Cornell ornithology school. Much easier. It will listen to birds and ID them, so you don’t need a closeup image.

I like that app. I have been in another part of the state before and heard an interesting bird call I had never heard before and it was neat that it identified the bird for me.

It's a Red Shouldered Hawk.

Kestrels are tiny.

Thanks everyone. Guess I need to get a better guide the red shoulder hawk isn't in nthe one I have.
I have the Merlin app, interesting what birds are around even if I don't see them.