Two Birds in Boynton Beach FLA USA (1 Viewer)

I just discovered the BirdForum last week and I'm very grateful for the ID's people have provided for some of the bird pics I've had lying around that I wasn't sure of. I have a couple more here but please let me know if I'm wearing out my welcome or over-using this forum. (thanks!)

In January 2007 I was visiting my in-laws in Boynton Beach Florida and we went for a walk in a little nature preserve they have nearby. It wasn't a birding trip so I didn't have binoculars or a Peterson's but I got a few snaps with a 180mm lens, which was too short for my distance, hence the cropping, over-sharpening, etc.

Some kind of hawk but I don't know which kind (red shouldered hawk? it has red shoulders but I didn't think r.s.h's had a striped breast) . . .
http://pnart.com/temp/bird3105.jpg

I'm pretty sure this birdie is a kestrel but others kestrels I've seen have gray-blue wings/shoulders . . .
http://pnart.com/temp/bird397.jpg

Thanks (again!) in advance!

Right on both counts

plnelson said:

please let me know if I'm wearing out my welcome or over-using this forum.

Click to expand...

No such thing! That's why we're here, Plnelson! :t:

plnelson said:

Some kind of hawk but I don't know which kind (red shouldered hawk? it has red shoulders but I didn't think r.s.h's had a striped breast) . . .
http://pnart.com/temp/bird3105.jpg

Click to expand...

As AP has confirmed, you're right - this is a Red-shouldered Hawk, and the adults in fact do have horizontal, rusty breast-barring.

plnelson said:

I'm pretty sure this birdie is a kestrel but others kestrels I've seen have gray-blue wings/shoulders . . .
http://pnart.com/temp/bird397.jpg

Click to expand...

Again, as AP has confirmed, you're right - this is an American Kestrel. Males will have that blue on the wings, while females (like the one you photo'd) won't. There are other differences in plumage sex-wise, but that's the most prominent.