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Accipiter striatus
Small, likely juvenile hawk, maybe 12 inches tall. Barred Tail, with thin white stripe on end.
Urban, on the edge of a slough.
Visited our backyard during Labor Day BBQ to get a drink. Between the fence and bird bath, he was there for about half an hour. Didn't care there were about 7 of us and a crying baby on the patio 20 feet away!
Spotted on Sep 6, 2011
Submitted on Sep 6, 2011
7 Comments
I have been informed that since Labor Day, the hawk has visited the backyard almost daily! It comes in and watches the pet cats, small birds, squirrels, etc.
The squirrels in this yard are used to chasing the cats, so they had no idea they should NOT chase the hawk! The much larger and faster bird than what is normally in the yard, almost had a little fuzzy red dinner!
Alice, there are many trees and lots of med to large bushes nearby! We also wondered if he had become a frequent visitor due to the 3 bird houses in the yard, and I think 4 batches of babies raised out of the houses! Seems to be easy meal for him! Not such a nice thought, but it was awesome to see him there for so long.
I hope there are bushes nearby for small birds, because he is likely coming back to hunt when others are there. Like your story.
Thanks for the help with ID... I think also Sharp-Shinned seems to be the best fit, based on description!
Maybe a juvenile sharp-shinned. See Sibley p.112
I think that this is a sharp shinned hawk. A coopers hawk has a two inch white band at the end of its tail.
this is either a coopers hawk or a sharp shinned hawk. both look very similar