Whatbird.com

I saw this bird flying over my house today in Colorado in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.  I think it's a red-tailed hawk, but not certain.

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no, its a coopers hawk.  the long tail gives it away as an accipiter.  from the head size and the rounded end of the tail, i'd rule out sharp-shinned hawk.  since the wings are not tapered at the end, i'd also rule out goshawk.  that leaves you with coopers.

OK. I went back my bird books and I think I agree with you.  It's too large to be a Sharp Shinned hawk, and the tail is rounded at the end.  I think it's a Cooper's Hawk.  Pretty cool.  I've never seen one up here before.  Or, if I have seen them, I just mistakenly assumed they were Red-tailed hawks, which are more common.  Many thanks.

 

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