16 replies to this topic

[cabirds]

This Juvie has me doubting myself.

I say Sharpie. The legs are relatively small, new tail feathers are growing in, but I think they're looking square.

The head looks small. Overall size is indeterminate. His hips look substantially smaller than his chest, but that could just be him holding his wings puffed out a bit for warmth and dryness.

The only reason I question it is that very pale nape and the rufous on the malar.

I make him for a First Year Sharpie. How'd I do? Did I miss a marking?

I know - the chest-view would be a slam-dunk, but I got one photo of him, through dirty window glass, in the rain and lightning. Best I could do with what I had.

[edit: Moving him into his correct location broke the image. Sorry! Here he is:]



Thanks!

[Pat B.]

Waiting with bated breath for someone braver than I! After thoroughly reviewing Hawks of North America, I'm stumped, although the tail shape and legs seems to point to Sharpie. The answer should be based on the superciliary line, which is more important in the Sharpie than in the Cooper's, but I can't tell from the photo whether that line, if there is one, qualifies it as a Sharpie.

[cabirds]

Thanks for looking, Pat! Yeah, the more I stared at it the less I was sure the line was there.

I cringe to post a larger crop, dirty double-pane windows aren't exactly "optical grade", but...

This is as-shot with only 1 pixel noise removed, no chroma-noise removed, so it's as-shot for white balance with no enhancement.

[Cavan Wood]

I see this as a Cooper's. Features like leg size, and body shape, and head size can be extremely variable depending on posture and angle of view. They can be contributing features in an ID but not particularly useful on their own. The supercillium is found in both species and I've never seen it used with any consistent success. Tail shape can usually only be seen from the ventral side, as the outer feathers which would be shorter are hidden under the central ones. Individual feather shape I have never gotten a good handle on, but these individual feathers are more rounded than square edged. The nape is only pale in the adults. Nape colour cannot differentiate juvenile plumage. Cheek colour is quite complicated and varies with sex and age.

So, I think it's a Cooper's because it has a sizable white tip on that new feather, it has a relatively long tail compared to the wings, it has raise hackles giving it that flat head look, it has a roman nose, and the "fierce" look that arises from having relatively smaller eyes set a little more forward than sharpie. That being said, these are also variable and subjective traits.

[Pat B.]

Doesn't look like what I would call a "line," but I'm a rookie here.

[Vin the Grine]

I'm voting for Cooper's on this one too.

[PoorMatty]

Thirded.

[FarAwayEyes]

I will go with Cooper's

[johnnybirder]

Agree with Cooper's Hawk. Had a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk today up close and was NOTHING like this.

[ColoTomo]

Looks like fairly straightforward juvie Cooper's. Legs too thick and neck too long for sharpie. But if you want the nail on this coffin shut, wait for Creeker

[cabirds]

That would be outstanding news! (and thank you all!) - Cooper's would be a new yard bird, a new photo-lifer (this photo is borderline "acceptable"), and all-around fun!

[JimBob]

Well I thought you would be disappointed but I guess not! Congrats.

[cabirds]

I'm never disappointed by any gorgeous specimen camping on my fence. Wish he'd stay longer out in the open like that. His vision is sooo sharp that any movement at all spooks him.

The best part is that I didn't have a nice Cooper's in my gallery - that's even better!

[cabirds]

He has his spot of honor, and looks kinda lonely. Hopefully some adults will join him at some point.

He's species 94 in the gallery, btw. Closing on 100!

[JimBob]

I thought you would be disappointed that you were wrong on your id.

[cabirds]

Aha - no again! Not to put too fine a point on it, but...

I'm never disappointed to learn something new - or to learn the correct identification of something. I appreciate all the fine folks here who share the benefit of their hard labors in learning the finer points of the knowledge of avian taxonomy with me.

Or if you prefer: I'd rather be wrong and learn something new, than be right and have nothing to show for the day.

If I felt any different, I wouldn't post.

[creeker]

Man, late to this party (darn work!) Of course I agree with Cooper's Hawk. Since I was at work today, I only saw one, circling the parking lot looking for pigeons.