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Coopers Hawk

Description:

I think this is a Coopers Hawk. The picture on the fence and on the light pole are the same bird at different hours of the evening.

Habitat:

Prairie Lands

1 Species ID Suggestions

Cody.conway
Cody.conway 11 years ago
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii


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3 Comments

KarenL
KarenL 11 years ago

Nice series!
Welcome to the community Phil!

Eang Khut
Eang Khut 11 years ago

Hi haow are you , the best photo

Cody.conway
Cody.conway 11 years ago

Your ID is spot on - the Cooper's hawk is distinguished by a few methods - some people say look for the "barrel" chest. This indicates coopers. Next would be size if you had a reference. Size of Grackle = Sharpie, Crow = Coopers. Next, coopers tend to have more broad strokes on the chest pattern - this one is not always very easy to distinguish.

Finally my favorite method is the tail. Cooper's have a rounded tail in flight. The reason this is viewable is simply because their tail feathers are of unequal lengths. So as they extend they round off like a part of a circle. Sharpshined in contrst have even tail feathers. When they perch its viewable - as yours are visibly different lengths. So when they fly its a square tail.

Lastly though - the legs. Thick legs = Coopers, THIN legs = Sharpshinned. NOT very reliable.

Hope this helps!

Phil Plank
Spotted by
Phil Plank

Denton, Texas, USA

Spotted on Jan 7, 2013
Submitted on Jan 7, 2013

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