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Is it a Hawk or a Falcon, I just do not know?
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Nov 4, 2018 14:07:01   #
Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)
 
Just a couple of points on sharpie / Coopers differentiation:
Size: A large female sharpie can exceed the weight, length and wingspan of a small male Coopers. (Don’t rely on statements of single dimensions for a given species)

Rounded vs. Squared tail: easy to differentiate when there is the slightest tail spread, but when the tail is tightly “reefed”, as in this case, the shape when spread is hard to predict. However, if the outer retrices are markedly and clearly shorter than the deck (central pair) tail feathers, then the tail shape will be rounded when spread.

Dave

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Nov 4, 2018 14:14:33   #
J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio
 
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! :)


Very nice shot Rena but can't help on ID so many different hawks I have a hard time telling one from another.

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Nov 4, 2018 14:44:05   #
Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona
 
Uuglypher wrote:
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
Hi, RE, br I am afraid my confident I.D. as a broa... (show quote)


I agree it's a juvenile Accipiter (?). Sizes may, and often do, overlap. In my experience size alone is not diagnostic, particularly in the field. The round tail, square tail issue can be subjective and, I believe, should not be considered diagnostic absent other indicators. Some good birders I been with over the years based their identification of Cooper's/Sharp-shinned on overall impression from looking at many birds over their lifetimes. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is more delicate in general impression, the head is smaller in proportion to the body size, tail is shorter, again proportional to body size, and more squared off. All very subjective calls. Over the years the majority of my field records indicate Accipiter (?) because I just couldn't tell. Particularly in a photograph, I am not sure anyone can make a definitive call.

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Nov 4, 2018 16:01:55   #
Sylvias Loc: North Yorkshire England
 
Beautiful capture RE.

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Nov 4, 2018 18:13:55   #
Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)
 
Curmudgeon wrote:
I agree it's a juvenile Accipiter (?). Sizes may, and often do, overlap. In my experience size alone is not diagnostic, particularly in the field. The round tail, square tail issue can be subjective and, I believe, should not be considered diagnostic absent other indicators. Some good birders I been with over the years based their identification of Cooper's/Sharp-shinned on overall impression from looking at many birds over their lifetimes. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is more delicate in general impression, the head is smaller in proportion to the body size, tail is shorter, again proportional to body size, and more squared off. All very subjective calls. Over the years the majority of my field records indicate Accipiter (?) because I just couldn't tell. Particularly in a photograph, I am not sure anyone can make a definitive call.
I agree it's a juvenile Accipiter (?). Sizes may, ... (show quote)


That’s a well-stated summary of common points of confusion! I commiserate!

Dave

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Nov 4, 2018 20:04:21   #
jpgto Loc: North East Tennessee
 
Great image RE. Looks like a Sharp Shin to me.

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Nov 4, 2018 21:47:53   #
NH_Howie
 
It's hard to tell from this angle. Looking from the front, if it says Ford, it's a Falcon, if it says Studebaker, it's a Hawk.

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Nov 4, 2018 23:55:12   #
RE Loc: California
 
Wow you have all truly given me a hawk education! I have been reading what you all posted then looking online to reference what you all said and I have to say although I am still not sure what this guy is I know a much more than I did! His size (on the small end) makes me think maybe the sharp shinned Hawk, but then I learned his eye color tells me he is a young'un something I had no clue of so and is really good to know! Thanks everyone who chimed in to help me and to educate me I really appreciate it and thanks to all who chimed in just to say you enjoyed my mystery hawk...I love this site, everyone is always helpful! :)

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Nov 5, 2018 21:26:14   #
Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia
 
Beautiful image, Rena!

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