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Cooper's Hawk with Yellow Shafted Northern Flicker

Accipiter cooperii and Colaptes auratus auratus

Description:

Cooper's Hawk after initial take down of Yellow-Shafted Northern Flicker Cooper's Hawks are medium-sized hawks with the classic accipiter shape: broad, rounded wings and a very long tail. Cooper’s Hawk's heads often appears large, the shoulders broad, and the tail rounded. Adults have steely blue-gray above with warm reddish bars on the underparts and thick dark bands on the tail. Juveniles are brown above and streaked with brown on the upper breast.

Habitat:

Wooded habitats from deep forests to leafy subdivisions and backyards.

Notes:

This sighting and these photographs were taken on a Sunday afternoon, in a county park in the middle of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was with my wife and two grand kids ( ages 7 and 2) and we were there to see the wood ducks, and had just gone to see some owls. My wife took my grandkids to the swings and slides just about 150 meters from where this took place. There was a battle for life, as the northern flicker cried out and screamed and fought to escape. Those cries were heard by very few, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to make this spotting. I had no idea before hand that a hawk was in the area.

No species ID suggestions

150 Comments (1–25)

williefromwi
williefromwi 3 months ago

A very belated thank you Brendahoffman324, It appears that the powers that be do not think it important for people to see comments left for them on their profile. I would have responded sooner had I known you posted a comment.

Thanks so much Toucan. I appreciate your comments and am glad you enjoy my attempts to capture the beauty I see in creation.

Toucan
Toucan 3 months ago

Fantastic captures =)

brendahoffman324
brendahoffman324 5 months ago

I didn't know that was blood on the beak, I thought it was just the normal coloration.

Adarsha B S
Adarsha B S 5 months ago

Yeah sure...so sweet of u....can u provide the link of ur facebook page?

williefromwi
williefromwi 5 months ago

Adarsha B S, I have a facebook page where I will friend you if you request it. It can be found on my profile page. I also post photos on Google+. The best way to chat would be on facebook, and either place is good to see more of my work. I would be honored to call you my friend.

williefromwi
williefromwi 5 months ago

Thanks so much BrendaHoffman 324 I like this shot as well, it captures him well, and for those who look closely it allows them to know he was dining on a bird, as there is blood on his beak. Many think it just a portrait, and do not look closely enough to realize the blood both on his beak and tongue.

Adarsha B S
Adarsha B S 5 months ago

Yeah..thats surely an incredible spotting! Specially 2nd,4th,6th are just right in the moments...i am getting interested in making friendship with you after seeing your work! Can i know u?

brendahoffman324
brendahoffman324 5 months ago

I love the face shot in photo 2

williefromwi
williefromwi 5 months ago

Adarsha B S I love photography and wildlife and will spend at least a few hours a week trying to capture stunning photos. You are quite correct that this might be a life time shot for me. Rarely is a person in the right place at the right time and have a camera there with him. I was walking to make some captures of some wood ducks when this event went down. I would say I was blessed.

Adarsha B S
Adarsha B S 5 months ago

Thats a life time shot !

williefromwi
williefromwi 5 months ago

A very belated thank you TKBotting, and Adam Braz tb2 for your comments. To say I was blessed to be their to capture this is an understatement. Glad to share, and glad you enjoyed.

TKBotting
TKBotting 8 months ago

Amazing shots! Thanks for sharing!

Adam Braz tb2
Adam Braz tb2 8 months ago

nice find!!!!

williefromwi
williefromwi 8 months ago

Thank you so much for the kind and glowing words SunnyJosef

sunnyjosef
sunnyjosef 8 months ago

Incredible series.

williefromwi
williefromwi 8 months ago

Thanks Matimar1, fati1, and pauli1 for your wonderful comments. This is one of my favorite spottings. Often times I know the bird is there when I go to the area to make my spotting. In this case I was in the area to photograph some wood ducks and perhaps a green heron if they were still present. This guy kept me from finding the green heron and held up my shoot of the wood ducks. I am not complaining one bit. :)

pauli1
pauli1 8 months ago

good you are a very good picture taker

fati1
fati1 8 months ago

strange but pur thing

matimar1
matimar1 8 months ago

Excellent spotting!

williefromwi
williefromwi 9 months ago

Thanks Joshua, I am truly flattered.
Thanks as well Jen. J. This spotting simply happened because I had my camera, and the scene went down while I was in a place to witness it.

Jen.J
Jen.J 9 months ago

This is an absolutely stunning series. Well done!!

Joshua Asel
Joshua Asel 10 months ago

thats one of the best series ive seen. beauty, power, and fragility all in one.

williefromwi
williefromwi 11 months ago

I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for taking the time to look at, read about and comment on my spotting. Thank you, Dixie,
Reza Hashemizadeh, IsabellaFiers, cecihelper1, ceherzog, DonnaPomeroy, Arun, CarolSnowMilne, Jeannette, and AshishNimkar. And if I missed your name, while thanking people, please no it was not intentional. I Thank you all.

IsabellaFiers
IsabellaFiers 11 months ago

Congratulations Willie, very very nice shot !!!

Wisconsin, USA

Lat: 43.06, Long: -87.97

Spotted on Apr 29, 2012
Submitted on May 6, 2012

Reference

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Great Horned Owl Great Horned Owl Killdeer Wood Duck