Sharpie or Coopers? Massachusetts, USA (1 Viewer)

[crazyfingers]

From today. Sharp Shinned Hawk or Coopers? I had thought Sharpie but now I question that. It was in a tree overlooking my neighbor's feeder. While I live in a suburban area my yard abuts several hundred acres of heavily wooded conservation forest of pine as well as deciduous trees.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Sharpie IMO

 

[crazyfingers]

I think likely the same bird also visited 3 days ago. Then it shot into my bushes from the side and 100 house sparrows flew out. Eventually it set in a tree above the bushes for a bit and then flew off to the last photo much farther away.

 

[birdboybowley]

2nd set looks more like a Cooper's - not same bird as first set as no white blobs on upperparts

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Yes, second serie is showing Cooper's indeed.

 

[ceasar]

1st hawk is a Sharp-shin and 2nd one is a Coopers.

There is an interesting discussion in Wheeler about the differences in the appearance of the respective heads of Sharp-shins and Cooper's when they are perched which may be helpful in cases like this.

See the discussion on distinguishing between these similar species at Page 184 in Raptors of Western North America which addresses the appearance of the Sharp-shinned Hawks head when perched.

"PERCHED. --- Small round-shaped head at all times; however in warm temperatures Cooper's Hawks regularly compress head feathers so head also appears quite small." (my emphasis)

Compare the shape of the head on the bird in all 3 pictures of the 1st post with that of the head of the bird shown in the 1st picture of post #3. Also check the size of the Tarsi showing in the 2nd picture of post#3 which reinforces the conclusion that it is a Cooper's Hawk.

Bob

 

[crazyfingers]

WOW. Man this is hard. I so rarely see either bird and so close together in time and place I was sure it would be the same bird. Clearly I need to learn how to tell them apart. Thanks for the help!

 

[JANJ]

Nice pic all of them showing very good the key differences between these two sp in non juvenile plumages!

JanJ

 

[ceasar]

Agree. Crazyfingers took some very good pictures of them!:t:

Bob

 

[AdrianB73]

I'd definitely call the second bird a Cooper's hawk. Any photos of the tail of the first bird from the front (from the angle of the middle picture, but showing the tail)?

 

[crazyfingers]

I'm afraid that I forgot to try for a tail shot today on the bird in the first post. I agree I need to try to do that when I can.

 

[tril42]

Agree with everyone that the first set shows a very classic adult Sharp-Shinned Hawk, the second set a Cooper's Hawk. The head really gives it away; note how the Sharpie looks almost neckless, his head dwarfed by his body, whereas the Cooper's is more in proportion. You can also clearly see the "capped" (Cooper's) vs "hooded" (Sharpie) distinction in these photos.

 

[Silverwolf]

Threads like this remind me how much I hate these two birds.

 

[crazyfingers]

Threads like this remind me how much I hate these two birds.

Why? So long as they go after my house sparrows and not my cardinals or downies I like them fine...

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Why? So long as they go after my house sparrows and not my cardinals or downies I like them fine...

I don't see why a sparrow would have less rights to live than a cardinal 8-P

 

[stephennj]

I agree 100% on the previous comments , Sharpie is the first bird, Coopers is the second. Head size is the field mark .

 

[Silverwolf]

Why? So long as they go after my house sparrows and not my cardinals or downies I like them fine...

Because I've spent years trying to work them out and they remain the only species pair in America, Australia and Europe that I can't do :t:

 

[crazyfingers]

I appreciate all the help people have given me on Sharpie vs Coopers ID. I went back to some older photos to see if I might have misidentified some in the past and I came across the first photo attached. Looking at it, it appears to have a real neck so I started to question of maybe it is a coopers hawk. I was really starting to doubt it was a sharpie.

Then I went to my archive and found more photos from then. The second photo is more sharpie looking. Looking more at me, no real neck.

Am I thinking straight? If so it only goes to show that just a change in the angle can lead to confusion!

 

[crazyfingers]

2nd set looks more like a Cooper's - not same bird as first set as no white blobs on upperparts

Could you tell me what you mean about the white blobs? I don't see what you're seeing.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

White spots ont the mantle