8 replies to this topic

[lorielmore]

Hi hope someone can help me out with this I have looked on several websites and in many books and am unable to identify a bird that visits our pond quite frequently.  We moved in June and since then I have seen a hawk-like bird that has a copper colored chest.  When the sun hits the chest it is almost auburn colored.  The back has black and white both on it.  I have not gotten a good enough look at it to see what the tailfeathers look like.  It seems to like fish and I saw it catch a baby rabbit a couple of days ago and perch in a tree to eat it.  Does anyone have any idea this bird is?

[admin]

David and Simon will be back tomorrow from a birding trip and I am sure they will be able to answer your post. In the meantime I tried to narrow it down in the search engine using the following attributes and values:

four birds. I wonder if its the Sharp-shinned Hawk? Mitch Back to top #3 David Lukas David Lukas David Lukas Members 727 posts Posted 30 July 2005 - 01:27 PM Assuming that your bird is a hawk, I think it could be a Red-shouldered Hawk. You didn't say anything about where you live or the kinds of habitat around your house, but this species is fairly widespread and it likes to live around ponds and streams so it is likely to be in your area. The Red-shouldered Hawk is the only hawk that has reddish underparts and a black and white back. It has the same general shape as a Red-tailed Hawk but is much smaller and is usually extremely vocal. Other hawks with reddish underparts are Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, but they both have uniformly blue-gray upperparts and relatively long tails. You can look for these features on your bird. Best of luck and forward some pictures if you get a chance! David Lukas and Simone Whitecloud Back to top #4 lorielmore lorielmore lorielmore Members 3 posts Posted 01 August 2005 - 01:05 PM I thought that might be a possibility but the bird is actually fairly large in size.  I don't have any pictures yet he keeps moving before I get a good shot but when I do I will let you know. Thanks for the help! Back to top #5 David Lukas David Lukas David Lukas Members 727 posts Posted 01 August 2005 - 03:16 PM How large is fairly large? You mention that it's a hawk-like bird, so this implies that it's a good-sized bird. A Red-shouldered Hawk is a decently large bird, one I saw yesterday was noticeably larger than the crows that were chasing it. David and Simone   Back to top #6 lorielmore lorielmore lorielmore Members 3 posts Posted 13 August 2005 - 08:39 AM Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Computer problems.  Yesterday he was really cooperative and sat still long enough and close enough for me to see that he is definitely a red shouldered hawk.  He has all the correct markings as for size he is probably 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall. Back to top #7 Julie H Julie H Julie H New Members 1007 posts LocationSanta Cruz Mountains, CA Posted 24 October 2012 - 05:27 AM This is like reading a mystery novel. I am looking forward to a definitive identification. I also have Red-Shouldereds in my area and they are rather large and bulky, and vocal! Bulkier than the Coopers and Sharpies. Julie H Back to top #8 fisherman1313 fisherman1313 Konk La Ree New Members 2401 posts LocationRiverbank, CA Posted 24 October 2012 - 05:37 AM Julie, the OP said in the most recent post that it was a RSH. Otherwise you would probably have to wait for quite some time, this thread is from 2005. New Year's Resolutions: Get my lifelist to 300 (currently 293) Finally get Mountain Quail and Vesper Sparrow Top my previous single year best (2011-253) I'm at 193 as of 5/12. Latest Lifer(s):Harris's Sparrow, Oka Ponds, Campbell, CA, 1/1/13 Favorite Recent Bird(s):Blue-winged Teal (Pair), Peregrine Falcon, Sanderling (3),Franklin's Gull (9), Modesto Wastewater Treatment Facility, Modesto, CA, 5/12/13, MacGillivray's Warber, Adair Rd., Modesto, CA, 5/5/13, Long-eared Owl, Mercy Hot Springs, Fresno County, CA, 4/29/13, Lawrwnce's Goldfinch, Panoche Shool, San Benito County, CA, 4/29/13,Lawrwnce's Goldfinch, McHenry Rec Area, Escalon, CA, 4/21/13, Snowy Plover, Modesto Water Treatment Plant, Modesto, CA, 4/14/13, Blue-winged Teal, Redhead, San Luis NWR, Merced County, CA, 3/11/13, Eurasian Wigeon, American Bittern, Santa Fe Grade Rd., Merced County,, CA, 3/9/13 Back to top #9 creeker creeker creeker New Members 7173 posts LocationSan Diego County Posted 24 October 2012 - 05:47 AM Yeah, I'm guessing the op is long gone, considering those were the only three posts she made in 2005! Creationist Birder Back to top Back to Help Me Identify a Bird 0 user(s) are reading this topic 0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users Reply to quoted posts     Clear     Whatbird Community Board → Birding → Help Me Identify a Bird Privacy Policy Change Theme IP.Board IP.Board Mobile Help Community Forum Software by IP.Board 3.4.4 Sign In Need an account? Register now! Username Forum Password I've forgotten my password Remember me This is not recommended for shared computers Sign in anonymously Don't add me to the active users list Privacy Policy

[David Lukas]

Assuming that your bird is a hawk, I think it could be a Red-shouldered Hawk. You didn't say anything about where you live or the kinds of habitat around your house, but this species is fairly widespread and it likes to live around ponds and streams so it is likely to be in your area.

The Red-shouldered Hawk is the only hawk that has reddish underparts and a black and white back. It has the same general shape as a Red-tailed Hawk but is much smaller and is usually extremely vocal.

Other hawks with reddish underparts are Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, but they both have uniformly blue-gray upperparts and relatively long tails. You can look for these features on your bird.

Best of luck and forward some pictures if you get a chance!

David Lukas and Simone Whitecloud

[lorielmore]

I thought that might be a possibility but the bird is actually fairly large in size.  I don't have any pictures yet he keeps moving before I get a good shot but when I do I will let you know. Thanks for the help!

[David Lukas]

How large is fairly large? You mention that it's a hawk-like bird, so this implies that it's a good-sized bird. A Red-shouldered Hawk is a decently large bird, one I saw yesterday was noticeably larger than the crows that were chasing it.

David and Simone

 

[lorielmore]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Computer problems.  Yesterday he was really cooperative and sat still long enough and close enough for me to see that he is definitely a red shouldered hawk.  He has all the correct markings as for size he is probably 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall.

[Julie H]

This is like reading a mystery novel. I am looking forward to a definitive identification. I also have Red-Shouldereds in my area and they are rather large and bulky, and vocal! Bulkier than the Coopers and Sharpies.

Julie H

[fisherman1313]

Julie, the OP said in the most recent post that it was a RSH. Otherwise you would probably have to wait for quite some time, this thread is from 2005.

[creeker]

Yeah, I'm guessing the op is long gone, considering those were the only three posts she made in 2005!