Cooper's Hawk( Part 1 of 4)

That is exactly what I thought when I saw these pics :-)

Awesome series!

Great shot!

Waiting for part 4!

Wow, very extensive discussion. Looks like a classic Cooper's to me - gray nape, round tail, bulging supraorbital ridge. It's an adult, but I'm not sure if sex can be determined without both male and female present.

Beautiful series Jemma!

Yes I see that now. I am also leaning to Coop. Varied length of tail feathers, eyes close to front. Hard to tell with the head and chest. It looks underweight.

If you read the notes section Jellis, Jemma gives links for other spottings of this same individual that have many other pictures.

Too me the major thing is the size. The Sharp Shinned is about the size of a Eurasian Collared Dove and the Cooper's is way bigger. Plus the size of the head compared to the body. And the chest shape. I don't see a tail in any of these images.

I agree with Ashley.., I think is a Cooper's Hawk - male. I check from Raptors of the World a field guide, James Ferguson - Lees; David Christie 's book.

No, adults have a white band. "Tail Tip: The tip of the tail is rounded and has a white terminal band. The width of the white tip can vary depending on how worn the feathers are, but it is nearly always noticeable." Sharp-shinned have a very thin white tip. But the white is not the main character I'm looking at, I'm going by the shape of the tail. That makes me very confident in this being a Cooper's. Yes, I could be wrong, but until someone can show me why it's a Sharp-shinned I am confidently sticking to Cooper's.

I am 99% positive this is a Cooper's Hawk. Especially when you look in your Part 3 series, you get clear looks at the tail. Sharp-shinned is very straight with a slight curve upward in the middle. Cooper's has a slight curve and more of a white edge, just like yours has.

Sooo...I'm still leaning sharpie, but I'm less sure now. Part 2, picture 3 makes me think 100% sharpie due to the flat squared tail. Legs also look really skinny. However, several of the pictures in part 3 make me go either way. Let's just say I wouldn't bet any money guessing on these pics! This is a tough one...

yes, i just looked. i now would vote cooper's i think as well your welcome!

Coopers and Sharpies are the most confusing/debatable spottings on project Noah. (In my experience). If you look on the Wikipedia page for Sharpies/Coopers towards the bottom they have a picture of the two next to each other, use that as a reference. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharp-shinned_Hawk

Yes, in one of the parts (either 3 or 4) pictures show the very long tail and ends of the feathers appear rounded, tell-tale signs on a cooper. Sharpies have short, squared off tails.

really, conor?

hmm, it could be. i am going to suggest a sharp shinned hawk as well and see which one gets more +1's. also, did you happen to get a photo and/or remember if the tail feathers were of varied length or the same length? if not it's fine, that's a bit much to ask :). anyway, i am leaning towards sharp-shinned actually, but here's a site that may help http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterphoto.htm -LE

I vote Cooper.

beautiful series, jemma. and yes emily, that is a cooper's hawk, pic 5 is a sure sign with the blue-gray back.

great cache Jemma ,what a amazing encounter,beautiful series you could put here the links for the other's spottings about this hawk story :-) Congrats and thanks for sharing such a beautiful sigth

I think it's a Cooper's Hawk but I'll wait to see the rest of your pics to say! Great close ups!