On 24 February 1988, while birding at the Hog Pond near Leighton in northwest Alabama, I noticed a large hawk soaring low overhead, at approximately 15-20 meters. The underside of the bird was white, with only a few small dark spots on its legs. The underside of the wings was also white, with distinct black wrist patches and a dark margin alongthe trailing edge. I was able to see the upperside as the bird banked and circled, revealing the pale reddish-brown back. The upper wing was mostly dark, but had very distinct white, rectangular patches at the base of the primaries. The tail was mostly white, with a faint reddish tinge near the end.