What kind of Hawk is this, Red Shoulder or Goshawk or ?????? Hi all, This Hawk has been in the yard the last few days, picks off a bird and then sits in another part of the yard to eat...

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

Hi all, This Hawk has been in the yard the last few days, picks off a bird and then sits in another part of the yard to eat it. Looked like a morning dove the other day and a smaller finch like bird today. My wife would much prefer that they just eat seeds like the other birds.

Anyway, I think it is a red shoulder hawk but my neighbour thinks it is a Northern Goshawk. What do you people think.

Thanks for looking and your help

Hawk, what type????

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jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

happy sailor wrote:

Hi all, This Hawk has been in the yard the last few days, picks off a bird and then sits in another part of the yard to eat it. Looked like a morning dove the other day and a smaller finch like bird today. My wife would much prefer that they just eat seeds like the other birds.

Anyway, I think it is a red shoulder hawk but my neighbour thinks it is a Northern Goshawk. What do you people think.

Thanks for looking and your help

Looks like a Sharp-shinned to me.

Sirsnapalot Loc: Hammond, Louisiana

It's a broad tail hawk! Had one nest in my back yard last spring!

A. J. Loc: PA. USA

Sirsnapalot wrote:

It's a broad tail hawk! Had one nest in my back yard last spring!

The tail is long and between a Coopers Hawk and a Sharp-sinned Hawk, I'm leaning toward a Sharp-shinned with pencil thin legs. :-D

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

A.J. is right though it's tough to tell without a point of reference. Due to the thinness of the legs I'd have to say Sharp-shinned Hawk. Here's what it's not;
Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and what I think the previous replier was trying to say a Broad-winged Hawk.
Though what 'Sirsnapalot' did show you was a Red-shouldered Hawk.

Sirsnapalot Loc: Hammond, Louisiana

happy sailor wrote:

Hi all, This Hawk has been in the yard the last few days, picks off a bird and then sits in another part of the yard to eat it. Looked like a morning dove the other day and a smaller finch like bird today. My wife would much prefer that they just eat seeds like the other birds.

Anyway, I think it is a red shoulder hawk but my neighbour thinks it is a Northern Goshawk. What do you people think.

Thanks for looking and your help

Sorry, I said a broad tail hawk! I ment a broad wing, the photo I posted earlier was taken in my yard, it is identical to the hawk in your post!

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

Sirsnapalot wrote:

Sorry, I said a broad tail hawk! I ment a broad wing, the photo I posted earlier was taken in my yard, it is identical to the hawk in your post!

I'm afraid it's not the same as the OPs photo. His hawk has a black cap and no markings on the wing edges. Yours has a red head and white spots on the wing edges. Yours is a Red-shouldered Hawk.

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

Joe F.N. wrote:

A.J. is right though it's tough to tell without a point of reference. Due to the thinness of the legs I'd have to say Sharp-shinned Hawk. Here's what it's not;
Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk and what I think the previous replier was trying to say a Broad-winged Hawk.
Though what 'Sirsnapalot' did show you was a Red-shouldered Hawk.

Hi Joe, thanks for commenting, originally we thought it was a Cooper's Hawk except that we read that they don't stay here for the winter and migrate. The beak has a yellow area close to its base and the tail did seem long. I really am having fun trying to figure these different birds out.

LOL, I get the Blue Jays and the Cardinals right the first time every time!!

Thank you everyone who offered some thoughts. I will probably get another chance to see him tomorrow, he seems to be coming every day. At this rate he should be the size of an eagle by spring.

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

Sharp-shinned Hawks more than any other hawk will hang around backyard feeders. Most hawks migrate but there are always some who stay behind if they have a rich enough food source.

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

A. J. wrote:

The tail is long and between a Coopers Hawk and a Sharp-sinned Hawk, I'm leaning toward a Sharp-shinned with pencil thin legs. :-D

This one is a cooper with a longer rounded tail feathers. A sharpie has shorter squared tail feathers.

Joe F.N. Loc: Oshawa, Ontario

I look for that as well but how can you tell when the tip of his tail is hidden behind the branch?

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Joe F.N. wrote:

I look for that as well but how can you tell when the tip of his tail is hidden behind the branch?

Exactly what I was thinking. The Hawk in the other picture might be what he's talking about.

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Joe F.N. wrote:

I look for that as well but how can you tell when the tip of his tail is hidden behind the branch?

In this case the tail extends well below it's feet. A sharpies tail would end above the lower branch.

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

BigBear wrote:

In this case the tail extends well below it's feet. A sharpies tail would end above the lower branch.

Hi BigBear I looked through my pictures and I have one of the Hawk from a little bit of a different angle which shows the bottom of his tail. Hopefully this will help you guys with the ID.

This one was from farther away so is quite a heavy crop.

I am a total newbie at bird identification and really do not know.

Thanks

Dennis

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

sorry forgot to attach the photo

Hawk from a different angle

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