Need help identifying this bird, please.

[terrib]

This is not the greatest picture. He was so far off, I almost didn't even try the shot but did anyway for practice. This is cropped significantly. He doesn't have the white belly of the red-tailed hawks I usually see so I was hoping someone could help identify what he is. Red shouldered hawk, maybe??

[ScoutR]

Well, I'm no expert, but there was a Coopers Hawk in my backyard last year that looked similar - or perhaps a Sharp Shinned Hawk.
We have lots of bird experts here that I'm sure will be able to help out. Not a bad shot for so far away.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Coopers_Hawk/id

[Inkanyezi]

I don't know what species you have around your place, but it looks more like an owl than a hawk to me.

[Steve S]

This is not the greatest picture. He was so far off, I almost didn't even try the shot but did anyway for practice. This is cropped significantly. He doesn't have the white belly of the red-tailed hawks I usually see so I was hoping someone could help identify what he is. Red shouldered hawk, maybe??

Looks like a sharpshinned hawk to me.


Similar in size to a jay or dove (avg. 10-14" long. Female is larger and can appear nearly as large as a male Cooper's Hawk.


Tip of long tail is typically square, showing prominent corners. The outer tail feathers are usually the longest (or nearly so). Note: tail tip of soaring bird appears rounded.

Tail has narrow white tip.

Head appears small compared to body.
Similar in size to a crow (avg.14-20" long). Male is smaller and can appear nearly as small as a female Sharp-shinned Hawk.


In fresh fall plumage, its long tail is usually rounded at the tip. The middle tail feathers are usually the longest.


Tail typically has wide white tip, although the white can wear off over time.

Head appears large compared to body.

Photo by Jeff Anderson,
Espaniola, New Mexico Photo by Seth Reams,
Portland, Oregon
The feathers on the crown and the back of the neck are dark, giving the bird a "hooded" appearance.

The feathers on the crown are darker than the feathers on the back of neck, giving the bird a "capped" appearance. The feathers on the back of the head are often raised, giving the bird a crested look.


Eyes appear to be close to half way between front and back of head.

Broad chest and narrow hips. Center of gravity is often high.


Thinner, pencil-like legs that can look long when compared to Cooper's.
Eyes appear to be close to the front of the head.

Thick, tubular body with a lower center of gravity.


Thicker, shorter looking legs compared to Sharp-shinned.

Photo by Bill Diedrich,
Hurlock, Maryland Photo by David Smith,
Grand Junction, Colorado
When the bird is soaring, short rounded wings are pushed forward at the wrists so that the small head barely extends past the wings.


Typically flies with several quick wingbeats followed by a short glide. The wing beats can be erratic and more difficult to count than for a Cooper's.
The large, angular head projects far beyond the wings when soaring, giving the bird a cross-like appearance.


Often flies with slower wing beats followed by a short glide. The slower, regular wing beats are easily counted when the bird flies overhead.

[kentruth]

Would you say it is the same as this hawk? If so it's a juvenile (1st year) red-shouldered hawk.



Lesley

[rtbaum]

I agree with the sharpie id, they're the reason for the bird feeder in my backyard