The photos are terrible, but I think they are enough to ID this as a Rough-legged Hawk.  I wouldn't mind a second opinion from an experienced birder to be sure though. This bird was perched on treetops that line a cut hay field.  This is in upstate NY in a rural area and was taken this morning at sunrise.  The low light and the bird being way across the field are why the photos are so bad. Our resident Red-tailed Hawks have white bellies with a thinner belly band and no black on the base of the tail.  We also have a Northern Harrier up here, but the bird in the photo seems too stocky and splotchy. A stocky bird on tiny treetop branches overlooking a hay field with a black band on the tail in winter in NY seems like a Rough-legged Hawk. Thanks for any help!