Cooper's Hawk? (1 Viewer)

Chuck A. Walla · Apr 13, 2004

It was a bit skitterish and the day was breezy but I finally got a usable shot.

Andrew Whitehouse · Apr 13, 2004

It certainly has the rounded tail tip and pale nape of a Cooper's. Very good picture too.

Grousemore · Apr 13, 2004

Nice shot,Chuck;I agree with Andrew,the contrast between black crown and grey nape is diagnostic.

Warbler · Apr 13, 2004

I agree, nice pic. Looks too large for a Coop, though. If it was the size of an Am. Crow than it would be a Cooper's, but this bird (though it's hard to guess how big those branches are) seems to be really small so I'd say it's a Sharp-shinned Hawk (probably a male).

Michael Frankis · Apr 13, 2004

It looks small and dainty to me too, I'd guess smaller than a European Sparrowhawk, which would make it a Sharp-shin.

Michael

Chuck A. Walla · Apr 14, 2004

>If it was the size of an Am. Crow than it would be a Cooper's

If size is the last objection, while this is slender, it's definitely larger then any of several nearby Scrub Jay which are about the size of Sharp-shinned. Thanks, I hadn't thought of making that comparison. Crows aren't common here.

Thanks all, I've only seen two of these and I'm still not certain what the other was.

bob

annieB · Apr 14, 2004

nice picture, chuck. I have several different kinds of hawks around our little farm. they like to scope out my birds, too. I think some like their fellow birds for meals, and some like rodents and such. what was this fellow watching? annie burton

Chuck A. Walla · Apr 14, 2004

annie burton said:
nice picture, chuck. I have several different kinds of hawks around our little farm. they like to scope out my birds, too. I think some like their fellow birds for meals, and some like rodents and such. what was this fellow watching? annie burton

Just now he appeared to be gelling. A little later I saw him light out after a Cinnamon Teal, and miss.

bob

Andrew Whitehouse · Apr 14, 2004

I would think this is Cooper's on structure alone. In addition to the rounded tail it looks to have quite a large, squarish head and thickish neck. And if it's noticeably bigger than a Scrub Jay...

Andrew Whitehouse · Apr 14, 2004

Some Cooper's Hawk pictures. Note the tail tip and head shape.

Andrew Whitehouse · Apr 14, 2004

And some Sharp-shinned Hawks.

Grousemore · Apr 14, 2004

very informative,Andrew and Game,Set and Match!

HH75 · Apr 14, 2004

Hi Bob,
Looks like a Cooper's to me as well:not seen one,but they almost seem to have a caracara-like head!
Harry

Charles Harper · Apr 14, 2004

Thanks, F'birder, real nice show. Is the pale nape the most definitive mark of the adult C then? Body size and proportions seem to vary so much with distance and angle!

Andrew Whitehouse · Apr 14, 2004

Hi Charles - I think you're right about size, which is why I only commented on it once Chuck had given a comparison with another species. You're also right about how proportions vary with the angle and so I tried to put up plenty of photographs of both Cooper's and Sharp-shinned that were in a similar posture to the Chuck's bird. That way it's easier for us to try and compare. I'm not sure how useful the pale nape on Cooper's is as I've not seen many. But it's certainly noticeable in Chuck's photograph and in some of the others that I've added. Sibley also mentions this as a useful feature. I'd be very interested to hear your ideas about the identification of this bird and of Cooper's Hawk in general. Come on Charles - I'm sure you know a thing or two

Tero · Apr 14, 2004

Oh no, not the Hairy Downy thing again.

I have seen both in my suburb, and to me the size difference was obvious. But then you have males and females...

Charles Harper · Apr 14, 2004

Not me, my knowledge is ALL derivative. This is the third or fourth Cooper's/Sharpie thread I recall since joining BF, and everything I thought I knew has already been said. Haven't seen either bird in 15 years anyway; now I'm worrying about sparrowhawks....

Katy Penland · Apr 15, 2004

Having both Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks as regular yard birds, that rounded tail and flat head makes it readily IDable as a Cooper's, the size issue aside. Not that you guys hadn't already said it was a Cooper's...

Dave B Smith · Apr 15, 2004

Harry Hussey said:
Hi Bob,
Looks like a Cooper's to me as well:not seen one,but they almost seem to have a caracara-like head!
Harry

Harry,
I saw my first Cooper's last week in Florida and when I first saw it (even after putting the bins on it) my first impression was that it was a Caracara. The dark crown, the lighter chest and the very long legs all add to that impression.

Of course after checking the details closer, they are obviously quite different.

Chuck A. Walla · Apr 15, 2004

I'll be saving your pictures Andrew. Next time I see one of these two I'll be better equipped to identify it, or is this one of those situations where a little knowledge is dangerous?

bob

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