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Bird ID...Hawk??

Last post 01-25-2008, 5:51 PM by Bird Brain. 4 replies.
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  •  01-23-2008, 1:58 PM 22765

    Bird ID...Hawk??

    Attachment: P1050004.JPG

    Hi,

    I was wondering if anyone could tell me what bird this is.  I live in Parker, Colorado, which is south-east of Denver.  I'm thinking it's some sort of hawk, but whatever it is, it sure is beautiful.

    Thanks,

    Kevin 


  •  01-23-2008, 8:51 PM 22792 in reply to 22765

    Re: Bird ID...Hawk??

    Hi, Kevin. Welcome to WhatBird.

    Great photo... definitely a hawk. Cooper's Hawk is my opinion, although it's hard to gauge the size of it. It's prey looks like a rabbit (or house cat!), which would be the upper limit of prey size for a Cooper's. If it's larger than I think it is, it may be a Swainson's Hawk.... but Cooper's is my pick.

    Edited: added below comments.

    Well, guess I really blew this one!!  Embarrassed Tongue Tied I found where this was on another thread, and the concensus was for a Northern Harrier. I didn't judge it's size to be that large, although the rabbit, (now that I know what it is), is an indicator. Of all the hawks I have seen, I have never positively ID'd a Northern Harrier!! The picture in my bird book looks nothing like the posted photo... but I realize that book drawings are meant to be a guide only, not a basis for absolute identification!!  I've learned from this.....  


    We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors...... we have borrowed Her from our descendants.
    Chief Seattle (paraphrased)
  •  01-24-2008, 5:40 PM 22822 in reply to 22765

    Re: Bird ID...Hawk??

    I think its a juvenile Northern harrier.
  •  01-25-2008, 11:36 AM 22841 in reply to 22765

    • JBL is not online. Last active: 10/02/2008, 4:40 PM JBL
    • Top 150 Contributor
    • Joined on 01-25-2008
    • San Francisco, California
    • Posts 88

    Re: Bird ID...Hawk??

    As I said on your other post,

    It looks like a juvenile Northern Harrier - compare with this picture of another juvenile...

    John

  •  01-25-2008, 5:51 PM 22870 in reply to 22765

    Re: Bird ID...Hawk??

    Wow! The hawks in these two photos could be twins!! I think you have it nailed, John.
    We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors...... we have borrowed Her from our descendants.
    Chief Seattle (paraphrased)
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