Posted by Perry Holland on August 8, 2010 at 4:31 PM
I would like opinions on what hawk I have photgraphed. I think it's a Red Shouldered juvenile, But i'm in Arizona and don't believe this hawk is normally see in this area. It's call was very similar to a Red Tail. Any help would be welcomed. Thanks
Posted by Mia McPherson on August 8, 2010 at 4:39 PM
Perry
This appears to be a Cooper's Hawk, the range map does show them in your area. The cooper's has a long rounded tail, the sharp-shinned hawk would be shorter and more squared off.
I agree with Mia. A Red-shouldered would show quite narrow white bands in the tail and more extensive black tips on the primaries. The body would also be much broader in relation to the tail. Red-tails are highly variable, but in most all plumages show black shoulders and more extensive black tips the the primaries. Mia has explained why it is more likely a Cooper's than a Sharp-shinned.
Posted by David Graham on August 9, 2010 at 1:11 AM
Mia's got it!
The short rounded wings and the long tail of this Cooper's are typical of the genus Accipiter and provide them with the agility necessary for the rapidly readjusted twisting, turning of flight through forests and woods and in-and-out of woodland edge where they are the pre-eminent feathered predators on both furred and feathered prey. Their acceleration off a perch puts any other raptorial bird to shame, and they rely on rapid, agile flight to catch their prey quickly. They are not participants in the long, sustained chase starting from the shallow dive of a Buteo or golden eagle, or the steep dive / "stoop" of the open country falcons. They are the quarterhorses, rather than the thoroughbreds of the raptorial birds, and are superbly built for the role.
Dave Graham
East River, SD
Posted by Brian Gatlin on August 9, 2010 at 8:43 AM
I agree with the others that this is a Cooper's, and will simply add that the streaking on the breast identifies it as an immature bird, and the relatively fine streaking is another good mark for Cooper's over Sharp-shinned.
Posted by Perry Holland on August 9, 2010 at 10:13 AM
Thanks for all the help. I was thrown off by the voice. It did not sound like the Coopers I have seen before. I heard it before I saw it, maybe there was a Red Tail in the araea and I was hearing it but seeing the Coopers.
Discussion
5 repliesThis appears to be a Cooper's Hawk, the range map does show them in your area. The cooper's has a long rounded tail, the sharp-shinned hawk would be shorter and more squared off.
I agree with Mia. A Red-shouldered would show quite narrow white bands in the tail and more extensive black tips on the primaries. The body would also be much broader in relation to the tail. Red-tails are highly variable, but in most all plumages show black shoulders and more extensive black tips the the primaries. Mia has explained why it is more likely a Cooper's than a Sharp-shinned.
The short rounded wings and the long tail of this Cooper's are typical of the genus Accipiter and provide them with the agility necessary for the rapidly readjusted twisting, turning of flight through forests and woods and in-and-out of woodland edge where they are the pre-eminent feathered predators on both furred and feathered prey. Their acceleration off a perch puts any other raptorial bird to shame, and they rely on rapid, agile flight to catch their prey quickly. They are not participants in the long, sustained chase starting from the shallow dive of a Buteo or golden eagle, or the steep dive / "stoop" of the open country falcons. They are the quarterhorses, rather than the thoroughbreds of the raptorial birds, and are superbly built for the role.
Dave Graham
East River, SD