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BOP for ID - Minneapolis, Minnesota (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Cristian Mihai
- Start date
Hi Cristian,
Looks to be a Cooper's Hawk to me. It's showing a dark cap with a pale nape, and the tail-feathers seem graduated. Leg thickness from this perspective can be misleading - Coops have thicker legs than Sharpies (Sharp-shinned Hawks), but this difference is most apparent from a side-view, not a frontal view like this (hence the appearance of seemingly thin legs).
Looks to be a Cooper's Hawk to me. It's showing a dark cap with a pale nape, and the tail-feathers seem graduated. Leg thickness from this perspective can be misleading - Coops have thicker legs than Sharpies (Sharp-shinned Hawks), but this difference is most apparent from a side-view, not a frontal view like this (hence the appearance of seemingly thin legs).
It is definitely either a Cooper's Hawk or a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Alex offers some good reasons for saying Cooper's. (Though the side view versus straight on view theory about leg thickness is a new one on me -- just when I thought I had heard it all about distinguishing these two species). But it looks fairly small and delicate, so if it is a Cooper's, I would guess a small male (since males are smaller than females). But I would not be surprised if someone tries to argue for Sharp-shinned -- this can be a tough call to make from photos. Some people even used to maintain that the difference could not be ascertained in the field.
Best,
Jim
Larry Lade
Moderator
My impression was that this is a Cooper's Hawk as well.
JANJ
Well-known member
Remember the 'garden killer' a few posts back? Compare with the grey-cheked SSH from that thread here:
http://kristinadoyle.smugmug.com/photos/327504017_FyBWB-M.jpg
and note the difference in the head pattern, where the dark on the SSH,s head reaches further down on the head sides and not the 'cap' impression usually in CH. Also when blowing up the image of the Cooper´s tail pattern (you know what I mean) - and compare it to the 'garden killer' linked above.
So Cooper´s it is, probably a male by the colour of the cheeks.
JanJ
http://kristinadoyle.smugmug.com/photos/327504017_FyBWB-M.jpg
and note the difference in the head pattern, where the dark on the SSH,s head reaches further down on the head sides and not the 'cap' impression usually in CH. Also when blowing up the image of the Cooper´s tail pattern (you know what I mean) - and compare it to the 'garden killer' linked above.
So Cooper´s it is, probably a male by the colour of the cheeks.
JanJ
Last edited:
totaljohn
man-e-faces
and the legs/belly presumably..
Jeff Hopkins
Just another...observer
To add to the leg discussion, I was going to say sharpie based on just photo #2, but after also opening #1, I think the legs are thick enough to say Coop.
So...Coop.
So...Coop.
Ah but photo2 provides a better look at the pale nape, dark cap, AND graduated rectrices - all more reliable field marks for Coop - especially at this angle.
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