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Cooper's Hawk (juvenile)

Accipiter cooperii

Photo by joan6153
Published on Project Noah
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26.3587, -80.0831

Field Notes

Description:

This hawk was the smallest individual I have seen in the backyard, probably half to 3 quarters of the adult size. It seems to be an immature bird.

Habitat:

Along an inland fresh-water canal

Notes:

I am thinking red-shouldered or Coopers. The tail stripes are wider that I have seen on many hawks here.

Reference Links:

Cooper's Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (8)
joan6153
Because of its big head, very long tail w/ white tip, and thin dark brown breast streaking which are field marks for a Cooper's hawk, along with the fact that I have mature Cooper's hawks in my backyard but have never seen a Sharp Shinned, I am inclined to go with Cooper's.
Rosa Maria
Hmm... I see. I would wait to see what others may say.
joan6153
I added a third photo that is quite blurry but shows more of the front of the bird. I was thinking sharp shinned because of the tail shape but this last photo make me think maybe Cooper's. I'm really confused!
Rosa Maria
Hehe that's the same link I attached above. :)
HemaShah
Rosa, i removed my comment. Do not want to confuse things. Here is a good link. http://static.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm
Rosa Maria
Maybe, but it said the pale nape can appear on both juvenile Cooper's and Sharp-shinned. It is definitely a juvenile.
Rosa Maria
For how small it sounds, it may be a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Definitely look at the link because it also looks like a Cooper's Hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawks are smaller, have more of a squared-end tail and a more prominent "white eyebrow". Either way that is an awesome sighting and photo!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Wildlife of the South East, USA
Mission
Backyard Birding Southeastern USA
Mission
Florida's Flora & Fauna
Mission
Raptors of North America
Photographed
PublishedMarch 16, 2014

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