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SHarp SHinned Hawk? Sask Canada (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter AlainaLee
- Start date
The Falcon
Registered Birder
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk.
Here is a good website that can help you tell them apart. Scroll down to the size comparison chart. You will see that although Male Coopers and Female Sharp-shins can be close in the measurements of their length and wingspan the Sharp-shin is much lighter in weight. A male Sharp-shin can be as small as a Blue Jay.
http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/raptors/Sharpshinned.html
It is from the Canadian Peregrine Foundation.
Bob
ospr3y
Osprey Fanatic
I noticed often times, particular posters will state a conflicting ID and not give any reason behind it - I think it would be educational to give field marks supporting an ID when it conflicts with another's.
I would like to learn, and I'm sure many others would too.
Concerning the ID on this particular bird, my initial impression was Sharp-shinned, based on the "earnest" expression, what I can see from the breast streaking, and the tail feathers (outer feathers longer than inner). Size is tough to judge from photos, but it does appear to be small-ish.
However, this was just my initial reaction, I'm nowhere near an expert on Accipiters.
To the OP, ceasar's link is excellent, here's another link that may help:http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm
I would like to learn, and I'm sure many others would too.
Concerning the ID on this particular bird, my initial impression was Sharp-shinned, based on the "earnest" expression, what I can see from the breast streaking, and the tail feathers (outer feathers longer than inner). Size is tough to judge from photos, but it does appear to be small-ish.
However, this was just my initial reaction, I'm nowhere near an expert on Accipiters.
To the OP, ceasar's link is excellent, here's another link that may help:http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm
going from that link, i would say COopers.. the tail is more rounded with a more prominent white tip.. the body also appears to be more barrel shaped.. and the nape of the neck appears to be paler.. but who knows
lou salomon
the birdonist
looks like a juv sharpie to me. rounded head, thin looking legs, narrow white terminal band to tail, "open facial expression" and not so rounded tail edges (in sitting birds sometimes hard to tell).
Microtus
Maryland USA (he/him)
I generally concur with this analysis, especially with the tail (which is short), and the legs.
I'm not sure here. I know, for myself anyway, they are easier to tell apart if I see one in person.
As to the matter of a rounded tail on a Sharp-shin; here is what Brian Wheeler says in his Western Edition of "Raptors of North America" at page 170 under SIMILAR SPECIES: (1) Cooper's Hawk....................... PERCHED.-- . ......... "On underside of tail, outer rectrices are sequentially shorter than inner ones: use caution when comparing very rounded type tail of female Sharp-shinned Hawks as they can be very like Cooper's Hawks. White terminal band on tail is wide in fall but may be mostly worn off by spring." A like statement is also made under SIMILAR SPECIES on the Cooper's Hawk at page 184. ". ......... however a very round-tipped tail on female Sharp-shinned Hawks is identical to that of Cooper's Hawks."
Another thing; Wheeler states that the Sharp-shin is common in the West but the Cooper's is "Overall uncommon to fairly common in the west." FWIW.
He also says at page 184 that "The only real confusion (with Sharp-shin) when perched should be with sub-adult male Cooper's Hawks but their nape is always darker rufous/gray." I don't know about that-he must mean when seeing them live.
Bob
As to the matter of a rounded tail on a Sharp-shin; here is what Brian Wheeler says in his Western Edition of "Raptors of North America" at page 170 under SIMILAR SPECIES: (1) Cooper's Hawk....................... PERCHED.-- . ......... "On underside of tail, outer rectrices are sequentially shorter than inner ones: use caution when comparing very rounded type tail of female Sharp-shinned Hawks as they can be very like Cooper's Hawks. White terminal band on tail is wide in fall but may be mostly worn off by spring." A like statement is also made under SIMILAR SPECIES on the Cooper's Hawk at page 184. ". ......... however a very round-tipped tail on female Sharp-shinned Hawks is identical to that of Cooper's Hawks."
Another thing; Wheeler states that the Sharp-shin is common in the West but the Cooper's is "Overall uncommon to fairly common in the west." FWIW.
He also says at page 184 that "The only real confusion (with Sharp-shin) when perched should be with sub-adult male Cooper's Hawks but their nape is always darker rufous/gray." I don't know about that-he must mean when seeing them live.
Bob
Last edited:
ovenbird43
Well-known member
I'm going to cast my vote for Cooper's Hawk... overall body shape and head size/shape fits Cooper's better, and what can be seen of the breast streaking also fits juv Cooper's more than Sharp-shinned.
Alaina,
Since you actually saw this bird, here is what Wheeler has to say about seeing them in person and telling them apart:
Page 170 on the Sharp-shinned Hawk in the paragraph on Similar Species: "With practice, both species can be separated on proportional differences (my emphasis) without ever seeing plumage marks. Vocalizations of the two species are very different: a nasal kek of a Cooper's Hawk is separable from the high pitched kee of a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
And again at page 184 on the Cooper's Hawk: "Numerous proportional differences (my emphasis) can separate them even when actual markings are not seen."
I believe that is why I now find them easier to tell apart when I see them in person.
Bob
Since you actually saw this bird, here is what Wheeler has to say about seeing them in person and telling them apart:
Page 170 on the Sharp-shinned Hawk in the paragraph on Similar Species: "With practice, both species can be separated on proportional differences (my emphasis) without ever seeing plumage marks. Vocalizations of the two species are very different: a nasal kek of a Cooper's Hawk is separable from the high pitched kee of a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
And again at page 184 on the Cooper's Hawk: "Numerous proportional differences (my emphasis) can separate them even when actual markings are not seen."
I believe that is why I now find them easier to tell apart when I see them in person.
Bob
The Falcon
Registered Birder
Actually, I think you are right with Sharp-shinned. I mean't "juvenile Sharp-shinned", but said "juvenile Cooper's". To clear up any confusion. Lou has some good reasons for Sharpie.
Alaina, what was the hawk eating?
