I thought I would share a interesting hawk sighting. We had just finished dinner when I looked out into the open desert behind our place and noticed this Cooper's hawk standing in one of the water trays we leave out in the desert. The hawk would take a drink, dip down into the water then raise one leg, then repeat the process all over again. He did this for several minutes then hopped over to a Palo Verde tree then made a straight take off for a bunch of White-winged doves over in a big ocotillo. It was both interesting and entertaining encounter.
Regards,
Jim
Posted by Brian Gatlin on July 14, 2010 at 10:01 AM
nice, Jim! always a treat to get a hawk in the yard. I'm pretty sure this is a Cooper's Hawk--seems large, has a pale nape, and shorter outer tail feathers. a sharpie would be about the same size as the doves. my assumption would be that Sharpies would only be around Tucson in the winter.
Posted by Richard Ditch on July 14, 2010 at 11:00 AM
I agree with Brian: this strikes me as a Cooper's as well.
Posted by Jim Hackley on July 14, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Ooops, thanks guys for the correction, I will change post to reflect Cooper's Hawk instead of the Sharp-shinned.
Posted by Peter Conway on July 14, 2010 at 2:27 PM
By now, you know this is an adult Coop. I would only add that, here in Tucson, you should assume Coop over Sharp-shinned. Followed by Red-tailed and Harris. [I have bunches of Zone-tailed, but only because I like shooting vultures for in-flight practice and I'll look through the lens and say, "wait... those aren't vultures..." Every year - you'd think I'd learn]
The behaviour you witnessed is pretty typical. One leg up, one leg down. Whether at a water feature or on a limb. If you watch, you understand that in most land species, including humans, posture shifts from leg to leg We all alternate the weight and pressure on limbs, shifting our stance. It's a gravity thing. (and before the herp, amphib, underwater, insect folk chime in - yeah, we know. I want the anti-grav gene as well)
In terms of your Coop - sometimes they just practice hunting skills without seriously going for it. Probably the case with your doves.
I had one poor guy who, as a fledgling, sadly quacked like a baby duck and was so bad at hunting the doves and quail would strut in front of him and laugh. No joke. I had to feed him a couple of times because his skills were so bad he was weak and dying. (His sister was a superb hunter, as are both parents)
Paid off. He is still the Ferdinand the Bull of raptors, clucking softly and smelling the daisies, but can long since feed himself and has fostered at least 2 broods of healthy chicks. Who are also really sweet, but understand the food thing.
Stories aside, in Tucson, assume Cooper's Hawk. If you put water and seed out for the bunnies and birds, expect predators to take advantage.
Discussion
8 repliesRegards,
Jim
By now, you know this is an adult Coop. I would only add that, here in Tucson, you should assume Coop over Sharp-shinned. Followed by Red-tailed and Harris. [I have bunches of Zone-tailed, but only because I like shooting vultures for in-flight practice and I'll look through the lens and say, "wait... those aren't vultures..." Every year - you'd think I'd learn]
The behaviour you witnessed is pretty typical. One leg up, one leg down. Whether at a water feature or on a limb. If you watch, you understand that in most land species, including humans, posture shifts from leg to leg We all alternate the weight and pressure on limbs, shifting our stance. It's a gravity thing. (and before the herp, amphib, underwater, insect folk chime in - yeah, we know. I want the anti-grav gene as well)
In terms of your Coop - sometimes they just practice hunting skills without seriously going for it. Probably the case with your doves.
I had one poor guy who, as a fledgling, sadly quacked like a baby duck and was so bad at hunting the doves and quail would strut in front of him and laugh. No joke. I had to feed him a couple of times because his skills were so bad he was weak and dying. (His sister was a superb hunter, as are both parents)
Paid off. He is still the Ferdinand the Bull of raptors, clucking softly and smelling the daisies, but can long since feed himself and has fostered at least 2 broods of healthy chicks. Who are also really sweet, but understand the food thing.
Stories aside, in Tucson, assume Cooper's Hawk. If you put water and seed out for the bunnies and birds, expect predators to take advantage.
Lee
Tucson, AZ