Morey Wildlife Reserve in Loveland, this is a riparian area next to a golf course with some rugged hogback terrain nearby.
I just had 5 seconds of view of a very large hawk perched in a tree only 15 feet from me. No time to grab a pic. What struck me was the robust body size with large wings. Larger than a red-tailed. It took flight and I was focused on what the tail would look like. I saw only the upper side. It had a buff (not white) band at the base of the uniform, dark (not rufous) tail. I can't seem to find a match of that tail color pattern. I think the body was uniform rufous (no bib or breast band).
With just a few seconds and a poor short-term memory that is all I got.
Thanks for help.
Ron Bolton
Berthoud