IMHO there is no such thing as a beginners bird. I have seen people with HH's as their first bird and F***** them up and seen people with Goshawks who have done the same.
I know people who have had Goshawks, Buzzards, Harris hawks, Redtails, peregrines, sparrowhawks and kestrels as their first birds it all comes down to how much time, effort and the homework people put it.