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Post by tuchp on Feb 16, 2007 9:37:17 GMT -8
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Post by tuchp on Feb 16, 2007 9:38:37 GMT -8
So sorry, I'll try that image posting again_ Pat
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Post by tuchp on Feb 16, 2007 9:39:04 GMT -8
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2007 13:38:36 GMT -8
Hi, Pat.
Looks to me like an immature accipiter, either a Cooper's Hawk or Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Do you have an estimate of its size? A bit bigger than a Robin or Steller's Jay? Or more like crow-sized?
These two species are always a challenge to separate, but my guess would lean toward Sharp-shinned, maybe.... Well, the more I look at it, the more I'm not sure.
What do you guys all think?
The length of the tail favours Sharpie, but the tail shape is more Cooper's. The shape and density of the markings on the underside look more like SS, but that is variable. The head shape seems more like Cooper's but the head pattern more like SS. The feet seem a bit delicate for a Coop, but that's hard to judge. The eye colour seems dull yellow-orange rather than bright yellow, which favours SS, but true colour is hard to tell on photos.
A good estimate of size would be a big help, but that's not always easy either.
I'm waiting for others' opinions,
Stan
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Post by Gord on Feb 16, 2007 15:11:47 GMT -8
Nice picture Pat! Those guys can be devilishly hard to get a picture of...looks like you caught him while distracted; probably has his eye on a little bird! I agree with Stan's leanings towards a juv sharp-shinned hawk and the cautions at the difficulty of telling the two similar ones apart. With these guys, using more than one field mark is very important. On this guy, working from the head down (wow! a picture good picture is great to ID things!), I think the eye looks 'big' compared to the head where on a Cooper's they appear smaller. The breast pattern is good too with 'cross-streaks' (seen along the flanks) along with the streaks. Typical Cooper's hawk juveniles have coarser and darker streaks. Legs and feet can be very good clues. Thin legs on a sharp-shinned can be surprisingly noticable over the shorter and more thick appearing Cooper's hawk's legs. You dont have to see them side by side to see this. Hard to say in this picture but the feet do look on the small side. The tail might be misleading at this angle showing some roundness but it looks like it holds the potential to be square-tipped for a sharp-shinned as well. Size can be a great hint but I dont base an ID on size only but use it as a clue along with other marks. My rule of thumb is that if two or three fieldmarks cannot be seen well enough, the bird goes unidentified. Happily, regardless of species or if they're identifiable or not, they are really cool birds to watch, (even when they're after our feeder birds) Thanks for sharing Pat!  |
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Post by tuchp on Feb 16, 2007 21:14:13 GMT -8
Thank-you for the expert help. It was smaller than a crow and seemed to have a pale eyebrow. This is a more distant shot but outlines the shape of the bird and tail a bit better - it was all 'fluffed up' though. _Pat  |
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