6 replies to this topic

[thecommunistotter]

Hello all! I created this account to help me and and my mom identify a lovely hawk we saw in our backyard today! This is the bird:

We are pretty sure it is a juvenile of one of these three birds: Cooper's Hawk, Red Shouldered Hawk, or Red Tailed Hawk. We live in New Jersey along the Delaware River, and while we technically live in the suburbs, our particular area is fairly heavily forested and slightly marshy, if the location matters. My mom said she heard it scream, which our books say is more of a red tailed hawk thing, and they are the more common hawk in our area, but we wanted to make sure and I figured you all would be a great help!
Here is the original not cropped version of the above image, if it helps with size comparison:

The playground equipment is fairly small, if that helps.
Thanks for your help!

[psweet]

This is a Cooper's Hawk. A Red-tail wouldn't have the strong streaks across the breast, and both a Red-tail and a Red-shouldered would have a much heavier build with a shorter tail.

[Joejr14]

Agree with Coopers.

[BarnSwallow]

I agree. Good job on narrowing it down! Cooper's hawks are most confused with sharp-shinned hawks, which are nearly identical.

[thecommunistotter]

Ah, thank you all very much.

[Sgtmac1]

Just curious, do you have bird feeders in that back yard. Bird feeders are considered winter habitat for Coopers and Sharp-shinned Hawks.Welcome to whatbird, Mac.

[Pat B.]

Bird feeders are considered winter habitat for Coopers and Sharp-shinned Hawks.

Funny you should say that. I've gotten them in the winter before, but lately I've got one regularly in mid-summer (Cooper's). I'd guess the books say "winter feeders" because more people feed in the winter than year-round.