New Hawk In Town - Think Its a Coopers Hawk?
Nov 30, 2013 07:00:08 #
New Hawk was in my back yard. Looking at by birding book the closest to it was a Coopers Hawk although the coloring wasn't quite the same. Any thoughts welcome.
Have had Red Tail Hawks in the past but not one of these.
Have had Red Tail Hawks in the past but not one of these.
Flying Away
On Watch
Nov 30, 2013 09:23:29 #
There's one around my apartment complex and I posted shots of it sitting on someone's car! Many say Cooper's, several say Sharpshinned. Either way, it's neat to see and enjoy them, even if the little birds at the feeders don't :)
Dec 1, 2013 09:06:37 #
RetiredPhotog wrote:
New Hawk was in my back yard. Looking at by birding book the closest to it was a Coopers Hawk although the coloring wasn't quite the same. Any thoughts welcome.
Have had Red Tail Hawks in the past but not one of these.
Have had Red Tail Hawks in the past but not one of these.
I think this is a Merlin,without being able to see his chest I could be wrong but looks like a Merlin to me.
Dec 1, 2013 11:06:57 #
Marilyng wrote:
I think this is a Merlin,without being able to see his chest I could be wrong but looks like a Merlin to me.
maybe a good call but like so many of these "calls" the identifiers I read leave finding a good ID almost solely in the hands of the photographer since its things like flying patterns, wing flapping speed, song or other identifiers you can never ever get in a still photo.
Dec 1, 2013 13:40:39 #
The rounded tip and band pattern on the tail are those of a Cooper's hawk. At 14"-20" tall the Cooper's are quite a bit larger that the 10'-14' Sharp-Shinned hawk.
RetiredPhotog wrote:
New Hawk was in my back yard. Looking at by birding book the closest to it was a Coopers Hawk although the coloring wasn't quite the same. Any thoughts welcome.
Have had Red Tail Hawks in the past but not one of these.
Have had Red Tail Hawks in the past but not one of these.
Dec 1, 2013 15:50:45 #
Mr. B wrote:
The rounded tip and band pattern on the tail are those of a Cooper's hawk. At 14"-20" tall the Cooper's are quite a bit larger that the 10'-14' Sharp-Shinned hawk.
I agree with Mr B that this is likely a Cooper's Hawk. It can be a tricky ID, none the less, but the head shape and dark cap and a bit of a crest are other field marks in the Cooper's favor. Be careful about using size as a female Sharpie can be bigger than a Male Cooper's and unless they are side by side, or near something of a known size it is easy to be mistaken.
for anyone who wants more info on telling the difference click on: http://feederwatch.org/learn/tricky-bird-ids/coopers-hawk-and-sharp-shinned-hawk/
Dec 2, 2013 05:48:30 #
Thanks for all the feedback and links. I knew this was the place to get good information. After looking at the size of the Coopers Hawk and the Sharp-Shinned hawk it almost has to be a Coopers. This one was as big as the Red Tail Hawks I see around here.
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