Mostly I was stuck between a Red-Tailed and Coopers Hawk, which is also common in this area and you're more likely to see in a city. The talon color and inability to gauge the size(Coopers are smaller) were giving me pause.
That’s what Merlin Bird ID told me too, so I think you’re right! Just thought it was pretty awesome to see in the middle of this massive city! I could even get quite close.
It is pretty cool to find it mid-city. I'd expect to see a Coopers Hawk or Peregrine Falcon, but not a Red-Tail. I lived in the Hudson Valley for a long time and they always avoided the cities in favor of the forests.
I’ve had some bird of prey around my apartment in Brooklyn that keeps eluding me. I’ll hear it from time to time, but never quite know where it is.
I caught a glimpse of it once out of the corner of my eye. I saw a blur as something swooped down to snag a pigeon off my window sill. It was courteous enough to return half of the bird to my fire escape. That was fun to dispose of.
I saw my share of hawks growing up in Florida, but it’s still cool seeing and hearing them around the city.