Help Me Identify This Raptor (1 Viewer)

Jim Creek

Active member

• May 2, 2004

• #1

I'm rather new to birding and am having trouble identifying this hawk. Can anyone help? The shot was taken in S.E. Wisconsin in a park setting.

 

Attachments

• 
  hawk.jpg

  118.6 KB · Views: 269

Bubo

Registered Birder

• May 2, 2004

• #2

looks like a juvenile (1st year) Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii, got the long tail, thin dark streaks on chest and legs of a cooper's.

 

Last edited: May 2, 2004

Rasmus Boegh

BF member

• May 2, 2004

• #3

I'd have to agree on it being Cooper's. Pattern on underside and the long tail rule out imm. Sharp-shinned. The pattern of imm. Goshawk is rather similar (but still possible to differentiate) but it has heavier and shorter legs (and general jizz incl. tail).

 

Last edited: May 2, 2004

weather

Pirate name: Poncy Henry Goodfellow

• May 2, 2004

• #4

Cooper's Hawk:14-20" (36-51 cm). W. 28" (71 cm). A crow-sized hawk, with long tail and short rounded wings. Adult slate-gray above, with dark cap, and finely rust-barred below. Immature brown above, whitish below with fine streaks. Tail tip rounded, not squared-off.

What do you think of the tail tip? Is it rounded?

 

Attachments

• 
  BD0089_3l.jpg

  53.7 KB · Views: 212

Rasmus Boegh

BF member

• May 12, 2004

• #5

Weather,

Yes, in adult Cooper's the tail-tip is rounded, but it is rather variable in juv's., hence not useful in the individual of the photo. Bird in first thread clearly is a Cooper's...

 

Last edited: May 18, 2004

B

BlueTiercel

Member

• May 17, 2004

• #6

HAHA, great shot of the birds bum! I am sure this was the only shot available, but it is humorous. I would throw in a vote for Coopers, hard to say from such and anlge really but the legs seem more heavily built then the Sharpie and don't really think it was a Gos. Pick up a copy of Hawks in Flight. This book has been very helpful to me. Now i just gotta work on those warblers!