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Hawk Id

Discussion

3 replies
Posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 6, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Hawk Id
I'm pretty sure this is a RS Hawk, juvenile, but it lacks the barring I normally see. Dark eyes keep leading me to a RS, but still not sure. ???? Can anyone help? From FL
Posted by Greg Lessard on March 6, 2011 at 2:24 PM
I am not an expert, but my first guess is red shouldered. Location, speckled chest, dark eyes, with possible light banding on the tail make me think red shouldered.
Posted by June Marie Wingert on March 7, 2011 at 11:50 AM
I believe it is a Cooper's hawk..The tail of the Copper's is roundish in shape, where the tails of the sharp-shinned and red-shuldered hawk are squared off.
Posted by Richard Teller on March 7, 2011 at 12:08 PM
I agree with Greg, this is an immature Red-shoulder. The tail is neither long enough, especially in comparison to it's body,or banded enough to be a Coopers.Also a juvenile Coopers would have a very light eye. Besides in Florida, at least the areas I have been in the Red-shoulder is the predominate hawk.