Michigan, Hawk ID confirmation, Please (1 Viewer)

[Hainan on the fly]

Trying to make sure this is Cooper's Hawk over sharp-shinned. Big head and bill, sloping forehead and bulky feet all point me there. Also the more rounded off tail. Although it is a little difficult to see in these pictures, I'm seeing some contrast in the nape and neck. Feel like I'm getting a little better at separating these and starting to make notes for separation criteria (with the help of kind folks on the platform). Please offer advice if there is something I am missing.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[Jim M.]

It is neither – it is a buteo, not an accipiter. Specifically, an adult Broad-winged Hawk. The tail would project much further past the wings in an accipiter, among other things.

 

[Hainan on the fly]

It is neither – it is a buteo, not an accipiter. Specifically, an adult Broad-winged Hawk. The tail would project much further past the wings in an accipiter, among other things.

Ugh.... Happy to see a new hawk but humbled in all I have to learn. I really appreciate your insight! I can totally see what you mean now that you've mentioned it. I hope to someday be able to notice on my own.

 

[Butty]

No N American Accipiter has a tail-pattern like this.

 

[THE_FERN]

...and the thick tail bars help id it as broad-wing

 

[Butty]

... being otherwise most like adult red-shouldered hawk which also has thick black tail-bars but much narrower white ones - and differs also in having contrastingly-barred secondaries.

 

[Hainan on the fly]

No N American Accipiter has a tail-pattern like this.

Thanks! I got back from Asia recently. Over there I'd used a data base that had a ton of images of different species Really helped in following up on comments such as yours. Does there happen to be a N. American database that is similar you could point me towards?

Thanks,

Brian

http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?Bird_ID=902&Bird_Image_ID=32861&Bird_Family_ID=

 

[Butty]

https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/

Or - and better in this case - a field guide.

 

[Hainan on the fly]

https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/

Or - and better in this case - a field guide.

Thanks!