Cooper's? Sharp-shinned? Mexico (1 Viewer)

[ensis]

Hi all,

A friend sent me these photos asking for help in ID. He said it was similar in size to the American Crow that snatched the hawk's prey just moments before he took the pictures. I'm not sure what to tell him-- I'm leaning towards Sharp-shinned based on "startled" face expression and size. But Cooper's is far more common, especially in spring. April, NW Baja California.

 

[The Bird Nuts]

It is a Cooper's Hawk, a male with the gray cheeks. Notice the pale nape creating a capped appearance, the large flat-topped head that is even with the top of the beak, the eye placement (closer to the beak), and the tubular body.

 

[ensis]

Great points, thanks for your reply!

 

[KC Foggin]

Just looking at the thickness of its legs makes it Cooper's for me.