Unknown Hawk-Like Bird (Maryland) (1 Viewer)

[Fest Egg]

At around 6:00, I was on a walk saw a small(ish) hawk-like bird sitting on a tree near a bird feeder across the street from my house. I got to stand very close, so I got a good look at it-the bird's head was cream-coloured with a few thin brown stripes. It flew off after I got too close, but I did see it in flight-the back of its wings were black (or maybe brown) and white spotted, to the point where they looked checkered. It's tail was striped as well, but not "checkerboarded" like the creature's wings. It didn't do a lot of flying-instead, it perched on branches, occasionally hopping from one to another. When it did fly, it wasn't for very long, but quick and close to the ground before landing in another tree. The bird was remarkably close to the road and seemed very comfortable with me approaching it. Any ideas? I'm completely stumped. There is a family of Red-Tailed Hawks living nearby, but it didn't look like anything I've seen around here.

 

[knuck45]

Did it look like this? http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_kestrel/id

 

[Kratter]

Black wings checkered white sounds a lot like a Red-shouldered Hawk, as does the rest of the description.

Andy

 

[chris butterworth]

A sub-adult Red-tail would fit, as well.