He's not injured, just wearing some of his lunch.
Juvenile raptor identification is a wonderful challenge, isn’t it? What do you think – did I have a Cooper’s Hawk or a Sharp-shinned Hawk in my backyard?
Peruse the photos, make your decision and leave a comment below. It will be interesting to read what folks have to say about my beautiful yard visitor!
Ok folks, here’s the word on my juvenile raptor. Thanks to Robert Mortensen at the Birding Is Fun blog, we have received a positive ID from Jerry Liguori, author of Hawks at a Distance. He says it is absolutely a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk, so well done Linda & Nick.
oops, I meant to say juvenile Sharp-shinned. Your bird has yellow eyes. The adults eyes are red.
Hi there ! Your bird is an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk. Small head, skinny legs and squared off tail, compared to a rounded tail, and larger head of a Cooper’s.
I know this is my blog, and I’m supposed to know whose picture I’m putting up here… Frankly, I’m never going to be sure of any ID that involves Sharp-shinned or Cooper’s Hawks, especially juvenile birds. I wrote about this fellow in more detail on the Birding Is Fun blog, and the comments received leaned heavily towards Sharp-shinned, even though I called it a
Cooper’s. If you want to have another go at the ID yourself, check out this wonderfully handy hawk identification webpage I found.
These birds make me want to tear my blonde hair out by its grey roots! I’m going to guess Sharpie. . .
Sooooo,,, what is he ….
I think he is a immature Swainsons hawk, I admit I looked him up in the my book and my husband and I (pat also) discussed him and so we both think he is. He is so pretty and distinct in his coloring.