Having moved from Seaside, where we had sharpies around our feeders, to Troy,
where we have cooper's hanging out (and one goshawk) haunting our feeders, I
would say that size is definitely a factor in identification. I find the
cooper's hawk to be a much more significant bird. I'm not an expert, but judging
by it's size and the shape of it's head (the top of the cooper's head seams to
slope forward) I would say you have a little sharpie there. Beautiful photo of
him sitting upright, seemingly in total command of the bird world.
Cheers,
Scott O'Donnell
On March 1, 2016 at 7:58 PM Diane Gonthier <diane.gonthier@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello,
Here's a link to four photos of a juvenile Sharp-shinned/Cooper's that has
been visiting a yard with a number of feeders for about 2 weeks. Residential
area but immediately adjacent to the North Clackamas School District Land Lab
(farm) and a stand of large firs on the east side of the Clackamas High School
grounds.
Juvenile accipiter photos <https://flic.kr/s/aHskvvFLgG>
(https://flic.kr/s/aHskvvFLgG)
I'm not sure it's odd behavior but in addition to perching on the fence or a
feeder hanger he likes to poke around several bushes along the foundation.
Pictures were taken on various days through the kitchen window but are pretty
clear. What's not clear is what we have.
Based on the size of nearby objects, the hawk is 12-13" though size doesn't
help in distinguishing.
I was looking at things like head size (small), eye placement (more middle
than front), length of outer tail feathers (same as middle but outer feathers
may be hidden) and lean toward sharp-shinned hawk. I don't have much
experience in making these judgments so maybe the head really isn't small and
the eye placement is actually more front than middle.
Welcome any and all feedback.
Diane Gonthier
diane.gonthier@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:diane.gonthier@xxxxxxxxx>
