Sharp Shinned or Cooper's Hawk (1 Viewer)

We were sitting out in our studio last evening when I saw a medium sized orange fronted bird alight on a structure in our back yard. At first I thought it was a Varied Thrush (a Northwest US specialty that is very handsome indeed!) but upon closer inspection I noticed the blue/gray back and that it was a little larger than a thrush. Just as I realized it was a small raptor it took off holding a small creature in its talons. I never got a great look but did note the banding on the tail as it flew up and over the house. It was especially interesting as I had just read a story in a local weekly paper earlier in the day detailing a Cooper Hawk's forays into a neighbor's chicken yard. I think it was a Cooper's, Janki thinks it was a Sharp Shinned. I hope we'll see it again. Our small yard never ceases to amaze me. My fiancee has planted many native and fruiting plants over her years in this house in a residential neighborhood and it has really paid off in bird habitat.

If it was anywhere near thrush size, it was probably a male Sharpie (the females are much larger than the males and Coops of both sexes larger yet).

It was hard to gauge size from where we were. I'm only leaning towards Cooper's because they are more common in urban areas.

RioTuitoBirder said:

It was hard to gauge size from where we were. I'm only leaning towards Cooper's because they are more common in urban areas.

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In my opinion, the size and the 'urban area' point to Sharp-shinned.

(With my BirdForum name, I couldn't resist responding to this!)

Stewart

At least here on the east coast, sharpies are migrating through in numbers right now. So they may be more common now than at other times.

Hawk in Massachusetts

I need help identifying this, if anyone can help please

BBHelmetcrest said:

I need help identifying this, if anyone can help please

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Sharp-shinned for me. No "capped" appearance to the crown (top of head is similar color as back), and I get the impression of a small head on this bird.

Thank you so much for the confirmation.