What is this bird

gray eagle

SOH-CM-2026
It's about 20 degrees (F) here this AM and I looked out in my backyard and saw the big bird and don't know if it is a hawk or what? I think he is looking for brunch.

Bird.jpg
 
I was inclined that is maybe a cooper's hawk. I think this one hangs out in wooded backyards and he/she was perhaps looking for squirrels.
From what I have learned they are prominent here in Tennessee.

here
 
We had a Cooper's hawk that lived on our former property and we would see it daily so I am familiar with those. Your photo shows horizontal barring on the folded wings which the Cooper's doesn't have which leads me to believe its a red-shouldered hawk.
 
I was inclined that is maybe a cooper's hawk. I think this one hangs out in wooded backyards and he/she was perhaps looking for squirrels.
From what I have learned they are prominent here in Tennessee.

here

I'd love to see a squirrel trying to get up that pole!
 
We had a Cooper's hawk that lived on our former property and we would see it daily so I am familiar with those. Your photo shows horizontal barring on the folded wings which the Cooper's doesn't have which leads me to believe its a red-shouldered hawk.
What ever it is has moved on.
 
I had an old stump from a fig tree that died. The top was about 2 feet from the top of my side fence in the back yard. That was a landing place for all of the
squirrels that raced across the yard. I greased it one time and watched the squirrels go flying off of it! 🐿
 
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