Is it a Hawk or a Falcon, I just do not know?
Nov 3, 2018 19:24:21 #
This guy landed on a tree across the street so of course I took a photo, now I need a bird ID please. I have looked online but cannot settle on what type of bird it is, if you can help I would appreciate it! :)
Nov 3, 2018 19:28:15 #
Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus...unless the taxonomists have changed the genus during a slow year in taxonomy...)
Dave
Dave
Nov 3, 2018 19:31:38 #
Nov 3, 2018 22:10:29 #
Nov 3, 2018 22:11:27 #
UTMike wrote:
It is a beautiful capture, Rena!
Thank you UTMike, pleased you liked it!
Nov 4, 2018 00:11:39 #
Nov 4, 2018 00:47:10 #
RE wrote:
Thank you Dave, very helpful!
Hi, RE,
I am afraid my confident I.D. as a broad winged hawk may have been more than a touch too confident. I’ve studied it some more and must admit some uncertainty. The tail is banded grey and black, not white and black as a broad wing should be...and the head, cere, and beak conformations are suggestive of those of an accipiter. It’s tail is too tightly closed to judge if it is rounded or squared-of when spread. Gotta consider a large female sharp shinn3d or a small male Cooper’s hawk. Whatever it is, the bright yellow eye iris indicates it is a juvenile.
Another confounding feature is that the two toes seen just just ahead of the base of the tail are rather more robust than would be expected for a sharpie or a Coopers, but more consistent with toes of a Buteo.
Sorry to have to be waffeling...the apparent confidence of my first opinion was unwarranted.
I’m certainly inter3sted in other birders’ opinions!
Dave
Nov 4, 2018 01:51:35 #
Hi Dave,
I truly should have given more information, it is smaller than a raven so on the smaller side of the hawk and or falcon size. Thanks for the update Dave, I appreciate it!
Rena
I truly should have given more information, it is smaller than a raven so on the smaller side of the hawk and or falcon size. Thanks for the update Dave, I appreciate it!
Rena
Nov 4, 2018 02:36:20 #
Nov 4, 2018 06:23:22 #
The length of the tail suggests Cooper's or Sharp-shinned hawk to me. The Cooper's hawk and Sharp-shinned hawk are very similar except for size. A Sharp-shinned hawk is 11'" long with a wing span of 23". In comparison, the Cooper's is 16.5" long, WS is 31". Both are present in California. I agree, the bird is a juvenile, adult eye would be red.
Nov 4, 2018 06:28:24 #
Nov 4, 2018 07:38:19 #
Nov 4, 2018 09:04:28 #
Nov 4, 2018 09:36:56 #
olemikey
Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
RE wrote:
This guy landed on a tree across the street so of course I took a photo, now I need a bird ID please. I have looked online but cannot settle on what type of bird it is, if you can help I would appreciate it! :)
Maybe Juvenile Coopers Hawk, about a 5" difference between it and Sharp Shinned Hawk (Coopers is about 17") SS is about a foot long. SS has a high pitched call, Coopers is more low pitch, nasal. Source, National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to North American Birds
Nov 4, 2018 10:08:05 #
Very nice, Rena. My first guess was Cooper’s hawk based on the shape of the head and beak and length and roundness of the tail. Regardless, nice photo. Jak
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