Chris V

I'd be almost certain it is a peregrine falcon. Their numbers in the area have greatly increased over the last ten years. My buddy john has two of them living near his house. They have always been a native species to the area although not as prevalent as in other areas of the country.I can't see the colors in the photo to tell if it is a male or not. Males will be dark on their back while females will be brownish. Both have a banded tail and a whitish underside. We also have a couple other species of falcons in the area. The most common is the kestral which looks very similar to the bird in the photo above (may be same species as some are called by diiferent common names). These are much smaller, usually around the same size or slightly larger than a dove. The other is the merlin but these are pretty rare in our area and smaller than the bird in the photo.

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jigslinger

Second on the Cooper's hawk. Too sleek to be a redtail. No stripe through the eye rules out a Peregrine.

Chris V

If the band through the eye is absent than I agree with you but I can't see that good in the picture.

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SuperSpook

Despite the nickname "SparrowHawk" the American Kestrels main diet is insects and smaller reptiles,rodents.If it did feed on a bird it most likely would not be a dove as its not much bigger than a dove...not to mention its in the falcon family.



3 falcons we have here are are Peregrines,Merlins and Kestrels.



The bird in the pic is a Coopers or maybe a sharp-shinned hawk,the sharp-shinneds winter here but the coopers have become more common as year round residents....They rape feeders here in east hill,and thensit in the trees and drop feathers on me almost daily.

Pourman1

+1 :clap