Hawk identification
A question for any birders out there -- I'm trying to identify a bird I saw this morning. Unfortunately I only saw it from below, and I can't get the markings to match any of the pictures I've been able to find in the books. It was a small hawk or other raptor, about the size of a pigeon, and it was hovering in the air above the highway near a lake. The underparts were mostly white, with scattered dark markings that looked to be black, but might have been dark brown or even reddish. The wings were relatively short, and not sharply angled like a falcon. The tail was spread and rounded, and I don't remember there being any conspicuous bands or dark marks on it. There were, however, dark lines along the underside of the shoulders.
Anyone have any ideas? I'm in South Louisiana, by the way.
Anyone have any ideas? I'm in South Louisiana, by the way.