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Feeding raptor series -- ID help requested

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bathgate

bathgate

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I think this is a Cooper's Hawk but I'd appreciate ID help from anybody who knows these things better than I do. It also may be a juvenile Sharp-shinned. I never was able to figure out what he was eating.





































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Michael

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Was it a smaller hawk? Maybe a sharp-shinned hawk?

There is a comparison at the bottom of this page:

www.massaudubon.org

Commonly Confused Birds

Learn the subtle cues that differentiate these similar pairings.
www.massaudubon.org www.massaudubon.org
 
I believe that it is a cooper's hawk.
 
A sharp-shinned hawk.
 
So what's it to be, guys? Haha. It looks like we all agree that it was either of the two I mentioned but can't agree on which. And, yes, it was either a smaller hawk (much smaller than, say, a Red-tailed) or a juvie.
 
bathgate, I've got the same problem. This is a terrible photo but I was also very curious what it was. I'd also narrowed it down to those two. I would compare it size wise to a Red Shouldered Hawk maybe? I'm north of you in southern Oregon and had never noticed one here before.



c24f17cf0b4143b19b864b382f9c1ad5.jpg

Oops, wrong camera. Oh well, good excuse for poor quality.
 
bathgate said:
So what's it to be, guys? Haha. It looks like we all agree that it was either of the two I mentioned but can't agree on which. And, yes, it was either a smaller hawk (much smaller than, say, a Red-tailed) or a juvie.
Click to expand...
 
One description says the Sharp Shinned is dark gray on the back of the neck and head, while the Coopers is light on the back of the neck which gives it a "wearing a cap" look.
 
Yep, sure looks like the same bird, missedshot. I'm still leaning towards Cooper's but I'm going to take another suggestion from this thread and post them to the wildlife forum to see if anybody there can make a positive ID.
 
Good suggestion. Thanks. I'll post it there.
 
Bathgate:

I live in an area where we have both Cooper's and Sharpies and have this problem all the time. The main difference is size with the Cooper's being almost twice the mass of a Sharpie. Unfortunately, your pics don't really have something that can be used for a comparison. Why don't these birds feed next to something ( a gallon carton of milk, for example) that would allow for a size estimate. :-)

There are some minor diffs in the tails, but again, your pics are focused on the bird's head and not it's bum so those are not visible.

This is a tough one and I'd be interested if someone comes back with a definitive ID and why. The why is important otherwise it's just an opinion.

Alan
 
no doubt at all Adult Sharp Shinned, the nape of neck gives it away, a coopers would only have the dark feathers half way down the back of neck
 
missedshot said:
bathgate, I've got the same problem. This is a terrible photo but I was also very curious what it was. I'd also narrowed it down to those two. I would compare it size wise to a Red Shouldered Hawk maybe? I'm north of you in southern Oregon and had never noticed one here before.

c24f17cf0b4143b19b864b382f9c1ad5.jpg

Oops, wrong camera. Oh well, good excuse for poor quality.
Click to expand...
Yours is a coopers

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Not trying to hi-jack bathgates thread, just happened to get another questionable shot today. The more I study the pictures online the more unsure I am. Jimusny, help please.



097b8e62eeda4576bad0f61733375064.jpg
 
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