Bird Identification - Los Angeles, CA (1 Viewer)

[Victory108]

Merlin or Sharp-shinned Hawk? Thank you. I appreciate your help.

 

[tom baxter]

Definitely an accipiter. It looks more like a Cooper’s Hawk in my opinion. I wouldn’t bet the house on it over Sharp-shinned, but that’s my impression.

 

[Victory108]

Definitely an accipiter. It looks more like a Cooper’s Hawk in my opinion. I wouldn’t bet the house on it over Sharp-shinned, but that’s my impression.

Thank you.

 

[Victory108]

Bump

 

[maplekong]

Just from observation, the underside of the wing looks slightly more like coopers but I don't know about these birds.

 

[Victory108]

Just from observation, the underside of the wing looks slightly more like coopers but I don't know about these birds.

Thank you.

 

[Butty]

Pale tail-bands are too wide for merlin, so it must be an Accipiter - which is what the wing-shape also looks like.
Underpart-streaking looks too wide on the lower belly for Cooper's hawk, which would suggest it's sharp-shinned hawk - but the photo looks as though it may be artefact-prone so I'm reluctant to trust that. I wouldn't want to judge the tail-tip structure here.

the underside of the wing looks slightly more like coopers

That (ie the plumage pattern) isn't an ID feature with Cooper's hawk v. sharp-shinned hawk.

 

[KC Foggin]

I go with Sharp-shinned Hawk.