I need an ID on this hawk, please.
Jan 24, 2019 17:28:35 #
It has been rainy and windy all day and most of the hood birds and come and gone, in between downpours and brief filtered sunlight. I noticed their food looked low and as I went out to refill, saw this magnificent creature in a tree in the neighbor's yard (~ 40' away). He was kind enough to wait for me to get my gear. Last week, we had a Cooper's hawk who flew in and snatched a sparrow. (He must have been hungry!) Anyway, I don't think this one looks like that one. I am sure folks here know their hawks. Somebody school me, please. Thanks!
Jan 24, 2019 17:42:11 #
Jan 24, 2019 18:25:05 #
Jan 24, 2019 18:44:21 #
Fred Harwood wrote:
Coopers or Sharpie.
I agree - Cooper’s or Sharp Shinned. I am leaning towards a Sharp Shinned because of the pattern and shape of the tail feathers.
Jan 24, 2019 20:09:21 #
Sharp-shinned hawk; based on
small, more delicate bill than a Coopers has,
Squared-off rather than well rounded end of tail,
proportionately larger/longer breast feathers than a Coopers has. (i always think that a sharpie is wearing a coat of body feathers two sizes too large).
I find the plumage colors and patterns of juveniles and adults essentially indistinguishable between sharpies and Coopers.
Dave
small, more delicate bill than a Coopers has,
Squared-off rather than well rounded end of tail,
proportionately larger/longer breast feathers than a Coopers has. (i always think that a sharpie is wearing a coat of body feathers two sizes too large).
I find the plumage colors and patterns of juveniles and adults essentially indistinguishable between sharpies and Coopers.
Dave
Jan 24, 2019 22:02:36 #
TomV
Loc: Annapolis, Maryland
More like Cooper's to me. Eyes closer to the front, slghtly larger head, and I think the tail tips are more rounded.
https://feederwatch.org/learn/tricky-bird-ids/coopers-hawk-and-sharp-shinned-hawk/?__hstc=75100365.27500b5a7c1cc3d0f43319c880dd8e80.1541648030495.1547258512256.1548383294338.14&__hssc=75100365.7.1548383294338&__hsfp=2760559870#_ga=2.109525765.1292767758.1548383294-298904949.1541648028
https://feederwatch.org/learn/tricky-bird-ids/coopers-hawk-and-sharp-shinned-hawk/?__hstc=75100365.27500b5a7c1cc3d0f43319c880dd8e80.1541648030495.1547258512256.1548383294338.14&__hssc=75100365.7.1548383294338&__hsfp=2760559870#_ga=2.109525765.1292767758.1548383294-298904949.1541648028
Jan 25, 2019 00:22:41 #
Dave327 wrote:
I agree - Cooper’s or Sharp Shinned. I am leaning towards a Sharp Shinned because of the pattern and shape of the tail feathers.
That and the fact that a Cooper's swoops in and is gone along with a songbird. A sharpshined is less afraid of humans, less wary.
A pair of Cooper's nest in my neighborhood. They snatch the smaller squirrels and are gone. I see it, but no photo op.
Bill
Jan 25, 2019 08:37:52 #
Dave327 wrote:
I agree - Cooper’s or Sharp Shinned. I am leaning towards a Sharp Shinned because of the pattern and shape of the tail feathers.
Jan 25, 2019 08:47:56 #
Jan 25, 2019 08:52:44 #
fretless wrote:
Hawks are tough, but my guess is Red-shouldered.
sorry, yes Cooper's now that I see tail ....Jan 25, 2019 11:14:32 #
My vote is for Sharpie. Tail feathers one length, skinny legs and feet, smaller head.
Jan 25, 2019 12:04:41 #
I have always believed that actions speak louder than photographs. Particularly between Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Perceived size can be deceptive without a known frame of reference. Sizes overlap a large sharpie may be bigger than a small Cooper's. Field guides always use terms like "tend to be" and "relatively". Cooper's tend to have more rounded tails while Sharpies tend to have square tails. Perched it is almost impossible to tell tail shape, in flight it is often not as obvious as illustrated in your favorite field guide. With these birds, when you see them in the wild, flight pattern, head relative to body, neck length, all those little things come together and you mind just says Sharpie.
Jan 25, 2019 13:30:20 #
Curmudgeon wrote:
I have always believed that actions speak louder t... (show quote)
Few people get the fact that many birds are identifiable by MANNERS, POISE and ACTIONS. A Robin in flight compared to a flicker, say. Thanks for bringing that up.
Bill
Jan 25, 2019 16:42:53 #
Definitely an adult sharp-shinned for the reasons already listed. Cooper's would have a dark cap on the head not this same colored hood going down its neck. Legs are also too thin for a Cooper's. And outer tail feathers are the same length as inner ending with a nice white terminal tail band.
Jan 25, 2019 17:32:28 #
ithoughtofthisfirst wrote:
Definitely an adult sharp-shinned for the reasons already listed. Cooper's would have a dark cap on the head not this same colored hood going down its neck. Legs are also too thin for a Cooper's. And outer tail feathers are the same length as inner ending with a nice white terminal tail band.
Certainly would not argue with that call.
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