Sharp-shinned hawk (?) on my balcony (1 Viewer)

S

Socar MYLES

Well-known member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #1

I am quite new to birding--or, at least, to photographing my finds, as I never had good enough camera equipment for clear shots, till recently. Until today, my best find was a northern flicker, messing around on the roof of an adjacent building. But tonight, just as the sun was fading, this lovely bird (which I have tentatively identified as a sharp-shinned hawk) landed right on the railing of my balcony:



I only managed to get one rather mediocre shot of it, before it flew off. I think it heard my shutter click. It was sitting so close to me that I could almost have reached out and touched it, if I'd wanted to lose a finger.

Anyway, I hope I see it again; I really like this bird.

 

F

fugl

Well-known member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #2

Nice shot. And I agree, young Sharp-shinned.

 

C

ceasar

Well-known member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #3

If you were that close to it can you estimate it's size? Was it somewhat larger than a Blue Jay or closer to a Crow in size? If the latter, it was a Cooper's Hawk. What ever it was it is a Juvenile which is probably why it got so close to you. Juveniles have pale iris's and streaked breasts and abdomens.

Here is a good article on Sharp-shinned Hawks and Coopers Hawks.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm

Bob

 

S

Socar MYLES

Well-known member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #4

I think you may be right--I was very excited to see it, and didn't stop to look too closely before diving for the camera. But it was quite a big, solid-looking bird, more crow-sized than jay-sized. So, a Cooper's hawk is the likely candidate, then? Thank you for the information. I didn't even know we had them, here!

 

C

ceasar

Well-known member

• Aug 7, 2012

• #5

Wheeler's range maps in his RAPTORS of Western North America shows that both Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks are year round residents in the Vancouver area.

Bob

 

xbted52

Well-known member

• Aug 17, 2012

• #6

That's definitely a Cooper's Hawk, a nice chunky immature. The photo is a female immature cooper's lounging in a yard.

 

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Last edited: Aug 17, 2012

S

Socar MYLES

Well-known member

• Aug 17, 2012

• #7

Ah, yes, that definitely looks like the same bird. Thanks for showing it to me! I wish I had a yard, so this type of bird might drop in more often!