Whatbird.com

I'm not a birder, but I walked out of my apartment in Palm Desert, CA this morning (Nov. 3, 2009) and saw a raptor in a palm tree in the apartment complex. I used the "WhatBird" ID guide to make a guess. I put the camera down for a second to look in the binoculars and it flew before I could get a picture in flight. The tail was barred and in flight it was "thin" rather than broad or fanned. Wish I could remember more about what the wings looked like underneath, but it was so fast. Any guesses?

 Thanks!

Unfortunately, it's pretty hard to tell from that picture. Both species, while not soaring, can fly without their tail feathers fanned out. Based on the general vibe I'm getting from the bird, I would probably say Cooper's, but I'm not sure. ::EDIT:: Looking at the picture again I'm now 95% certain it's a Cooper's Hawk.

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Total birds seen: 205
Latest lifers:
Brown Creeper, Field Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow
Favorite lifers:
Black-billed Cuckoo, Reddish Egret, Wood Stork

Thanks Cryptos 18! Don't know if a picture of a straight-on view of the face will help or not, but here it is. This has definitely piqued my interest in birds. I think I'm going to go out and get a book soon...

It looks like a Cooper's to me as well, and this is a somewhat more expected bird at your location than a Sharpie.

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Randy

I'm gonna go out "on the limb".... but looks a bit small for a Coop, based on the leaves around it.  No problem if you guys Call me out on it!

Hmm. Palm trees can have some huge fronds on them. I have noticed a trend that a more defined and I guess 'rugged' head makes me always assume Cooper's, but it could just be me. Often times I make the call in my head and come back later and it went the other way ;)

I always open the Sharpie/Cooper's threads so I can adjust my ID radar a tiny bit at a time ;)

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116 birds photographed and IDed.

I'm going to agree with Coopers, if you look at the legs, they look pretty good sized and Sharpie legs are quite thin

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"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
Immanuel Kant

I love the Cooper's vs Sharpie's posts (graypaper), and agree w/Cooper's. To originator of the post - Check out this site: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterphoto.htm 

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"Watch the birdie."
Latest: Sage Thrasher, Ferruginous Hawk (Dark Morph).

Your bird is a juvenile Cooper's Hawk. Notice the broad vertical stripes on the chest and stomach, as well as the relatively large head.  

Definitely a juvenile coopers hawk

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It's a great help. I think I've got a new hobby. I'm going to go with the Cooper's ID. In addition to what everyone else said in their reasons for identifying it as a Cooper's, it was kind of big (maybe 16 inches from head to tail), which fit with the Cooper's ID over the Sharp-shinned. Thanks again!

jt1234, if you send me a private message, I can tell you about some terrific spots to bird in your area.  I was there birding last May and had a wonderful time.  There are a bunch of great spots within an hour or so of Palm Desert.

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Randy

Cooper's hawk.

 

One field mark I look for (and have mentioned before) is the location of the birds eyes on it's head.  Sharp-shinned's eyes are very close to the front of the face, and Cooper's are farther back.

Also, the amount of white on the lower belly is more extensive than in Sharpies... which is shown in this photo.

 

 

(And the legs are too thick) =)

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Life List: 302

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November:
Vesper Sparrow
Black Scotor
Surf Scotor

October:
Hudsonian Godwit