Ohio Hawk? (1 Viewer)

[lantz1]

This hawk swooped down on a small squirrel just off my back porch, I could only get two pics. And am now at a loss for its proper name?

Thanks
Lantz1

 

[spacepilot]

Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk?

Hmm, after consulting my field guide, it looks more like a jevinile Norther Goshawk.

 

[fugl]

Young sharpie is what I would say too, judging by the squared-off tail & the pencil-thin legs.

 

[lantz1]

Thanks alot, I was at a loss.
Lantz1

 

[james holdsworth]

I think the white tail band is too broad for SSHA, and the tail itself looks very broad and rounded. I would say Cooper's.

And, pretty unlikely for a SSHA to try to take a squirrel.

 

[spacepilot]

I think the white tail band is too broad for SSHA, and the tail itself looks very broad and rounded. I would say Cooper's.

And, pretty unlikely for a SSHA to try to take a squirrel.

Agree on the width of the white tail tip and rounded shape of the tail. Now I lean more towards Northern Goshawk because of the white supercillium line, and the white borders of the dark tail band that you can just make out in the picture.

 

[jascha777]

Check out the pic of this bird in the gallery,
looks like `gentilis` there.
Mark.

 

[fugl]

I think the white tail band is too broad for SSHA, and the tail itself looks very broad and rounded. I would say Cooper's.

And, pretty unlikely for a SSHA to try to take a squirrel.

Your point about the squirrel is fair enough, but I’m still bothered by the leg which looks very thin to me, that is assuming that what I’ve taken to be the leg is actually that & not a twig or grass stem or whatever. Re the tail, it continues to look squared-off to me, though admittedly the outermost tail feathers are probably not fully visible.

Well, Cooper’s vs Sharp-shinned again, a perennial topic on BF. Edit: Oops, spoke too soon, Goshawk now to be added to the mix.

 

[lantz1]

Folks This is my other pic Lantz

 

[james holdsworth]

I would still go with Cooper's.

The streaking on the underparts is crisp and thin and the background colour is clean white and the tail bands are aligned.

With regards to the supercillium, I have seen alot of Cooper's that have [at least] a suggestion of one, and have seen some NOGO that have very little.

The tail looks too rounded as well. If you look at the 1st pic., the tail feathers at the right can be seen to be progressively shorter, outwardly.

 

[fugl]

Well, with the new photo, Cooper’s it is I think. Certainly not goshawk.

Edit: my post crossed with your last, James. I agree with all your points except tail rounding which I still don't see any hint of in the photos (but a purely academic point at this stage--just trying to save a little face ).

 

[apbarr]

Another factor in favour of Cooper's is the banding on the tail which would be irregular on Goshawk. In the 1st pic there is a suggestion on the rhs of the tail of 3 shorter pale tips and the equivalent tips are hidden on the lhs of the tail making it appear more square that it actually is

 

[Roy Priest]

This hawk swooped down on a small squirrel just off my back porch, I could only get two pics. And am now at a loss for its proper name?

Thanks
Lantz1

Just how big is the squirrel? From looking at the pic I'd say if that is a female coops the squirrel is tiny? Are squirrels breeding this early in Ohio? Unless that squirrel is a newborn it has to be a gos.

 

[ceasar]

Where in western Ohio was this picture taken? Wheeler's range map shows the southern boundary of the winter range of the Goshawk to be not much south of Toledo and doesn't include the southern 80% of the state. See page 190 Eastern Edition. As Alex B. notes above the barring in the tail is regular and not irregular or zig zag like a Goshawk.

Bob

 

[MLoyko]

Ah I love these threads :t: Honestly when I opened the thumbnail I thought juv Gos. But the points you guys are all making and looking at it again, I'm thinking you may be right on a large Female Coops...but I'm not committing just yet

 

[cavan wood]

Well, with the new photo, Cooper’s it is I think. Certainly not goshawk.

Edit: my post crossed with your last, James. I agree with all your points except tail rounding which I still don't see any hint of in the photos (but a purely academic point at this stage--just trying to save a little face ).

James is referring to the progressively shorter feathers regressing from the blue arrow to the red arrow.

Scott
btw - agree with everyone on coopers.

 

[fugl]

James is referring to the progressively shorter feathers regressing from the blue arrow to the red arrow.

OK, OK, I just had a magnified look at the tail in PS & can now see what you & James are referring to. It looks like there's just nowhere for me to hide on this one!