Driving the interstate in a rural wooded area. I spotted a raptor profiled bird that was high in a roadside tree waiting for squirrel ala' Buick. I was a rather bright white and had lateral stripes (3 or 4) on it sides. It was 16 to 18 in height and a rather full body. It was the middle of the afternoon. This is the best I can see at 75 MPH.
I frequently see birds of prey waiting for an easy meal at the roadside trees, but nothing this distinct.
The 75 mph thing may have a lot to do with it. I'm guessing the bright white was the chest and belly, which, in the sun, stands out. Also, this will depend on the angle. I will make the call a Red Tail Hawk. The size is right. They are everywhere in the country in all seasons. The hunting location high in the tree fits. Red tails have a belly band, more distinct in some birds than others and can give the impression of lateral stripes. Without a pic, that would be my (and my wife's) best guess.
A Red Tailed Hawk would be my guess. I got a picture the other day of an Eagle sitting in a Cypress tree in a local slough with a Hawk sitting on a lower limb. It was a little bit distant for the camera in my phone but I thought it was cool.
I get where you are coming from. Actually, it is much the same in Middle TN. I should have said glare rather than sunshine, but my opinion would still be a Red tail. The Blue ones feeding near the interstate could well be Merlins.
I too would guess Red Tailed Hawk or a Coopers Hawk. The Red Tailed has a reddish brown tail about 6" long that they flare out when slowing decent in attack mode. The Coopers Hawk tail is barely visible and runs to a point.
Both have white bellies and are very easily spotted sitting in a tree sunning.
Several years ago, maybe 35, someone killed about 20 red tailed hawks and hung them across a road about 20' high. It was a senseless waste. Fish and Game had a major fit, but never found out who did it. Hard to find Red Tails now; Coopers are more common.
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