Posted by Mark Jenkins on December 21, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Photo taken yesterday on Lake Woodlands, Texas. I can't make the ID and know someone can. Thanks for the help.
Posted by Nick Saunders on December 21, 2009 at 10:52 AM
This looks like an immature Coopers Hawk Mark. Note the rounded tail and largish head. A young Sharp-shinned would have a more square-tipped tail and heavier barring on the breast than this bird.
I've come to learn after dealings with both species, that the thickness of the legs is pretty subjective, and that some young Cooper's also have quite thin legs.
Posted by Luke Ormand on December 21, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I second Nick's assertion. The first thing I looked at was if the tail was rounded or squared off
- Luke
Posted by Jim DeWitt on December 21, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Sub-adult male Cooper's Hawk, Mark. I saw a bunch of them in the Sacramento Valley this past weekend.
Swainson's is larger, has a dark breast even in the juvenile stage, and the chest and abdomen striping is much chunkier.
Posted by Nick Saunders on December 22, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Rebecca, The Swainson's Hawk is a buteo, hawks that feed on small mammals mainly , while the Cooper's, Sharp-shinned and Northern Goshawk are members of the Accipiter family. Long tailed birds of prey that feed mostly on smaller birds.
The long tail is key to identifying Accipiters.
Discussion
6 repliesI've come to learn after dealings with both species, that the thickness of the legs is pretty subjective, and that some young Cooper's also have quite thin legs.
- Luke
Rebecca (ignoramus) Saltonstall
The long tail is key to identifying Accipiters.