CLF wrote:
Thanks, Phil, for your comments. Can you tell me what the difference is between the two? In my reference books there is nothing that tells me nothing that would make me think of one hawk over the other. I always attempt to ID birds and some insects or ask for help when I capture something new and I am just wondering what I missed.
Phil, thank you again for stopping by and I will do furture investigating myself to maybe see a difference between the two.
Greg
Greg I have had a lifetime of confusion and mistaken IDs in the birding world. Cooper's and Sharp-shinned hawks (genus Accipiter) typically have orange to red eyes, blunter head shape, longer tails with wider banding. Your photos show more of the genus Buteo, (Red-tail and Red-shoulder) field marks to my eye. There are many good birders here, hopefully they will weigh in.