Reservoir Hawk Answer

Thanks for your comments about the Ridgewood Reservoir hawk. There were a few good guesses, and the answer was alluded to by Alex (thanks for not spoiling my fun).

Matthew nailed it with Red-shouldered Hawk. In this photo you can even see a little bit of red in the coverts on the left wing. Also, look for the dark malars and pale supercillium. Had the bird not taken flight, I would never have seen the wings and would still be wondering what it was. It's a tough call when you can't see the whole hawk. Here are some identification tips that you might find helpful.

Here's a link to a good illustration of bird topography.