This is a beautiful picture.
The other day, in my yard, a large bird plummeted out of the sky to the ground. A battle ensued, after which the bird flew off into my woods. The bird looked very similar to this, except it was gray, instead of red. I didn’t move while the bird was there as I didn’t want to frighten it off. I didn’t get a better view than what I’ve told you. Sorry. :(
Any ideas as to what type it is? FWIW, I live in east central AL, about 45 miles from the GA border (Auburn, to be specific).
A gray back may be a Cooper’s Hawk.
It could have been a hawk. There was a big grey one sitting on the street sign on the corner of my neighbor’s yard. He carves birds, and I would have loved to have had a picture of it. I had my NEW cell phone with me, but didn’t know how to use the camera feature. When I told my neighbor about it, his son showed me how to use the camera. Of course, I haven’t seen the beautiful, grey/white hawk again.
Its coloring was between this http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=hawks&view=detail&id=FAAB5DBA593CE37BD38C9AD5C84E8D5033D5482E&first=351