Id this bird

[coopers]

Last one of a sharpy sitting.

Blake
WA

 

[rswyan]

The other morning this guy was sitting on the juniper bush outside the kitchen window, eating his breakfast (one less rodent to worry about around here /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

Sorry the picture isn't any better - the digicam has a limited zoom and I shot it thru the window screen besides.

 

[rswyan]

Another.

Anybody know what he is ?

 

[Michigan_Mike]

Blake,
Great pictures. Based on those, it looks like what we have here is a Coopers.
We also have a Merlin visit here once in a while.
Kind of fun watching the other birds scatter when ieither of them show up.

 

[Farwell]

Gary,
My guess would be a Northern Goshawk usually found in the Northern United States and Southern Canada, but can be found further South if food gets scarce in their normal habitat.
Farwell

 

[DAP]

Blake, is that branch that the bird is pirched on an inch thick? 1/2 inch thick? 2 inches?

We cannot size this bird based on the pic as there is no scale.

Consider this a pissing contest.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[coopers]

rswyan, that picture of yours is a cooper's hawk. Adult bird, looks like a female.

Here's another picture of a goshawk so not to be confused. This is an immature male, notice how large he is compared to my buddies hand? I'll post another pic of an adult.

Blake
WA

 

[coopers]

Actually I won't post another pic. of an adult gos, but here's an immature cooper's hawk. Notice the similarities in the plumage to the one Gary posted?

Oh, and Doug, they're 2" thick branches! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Blake
WA

 

[coopers]

Michigan_Mike- Yeah, birds know that they must get out quick or freeze quick! Both are very superb bird hunters both extremely fast and agile. They're a blast to watch hunt, both have very unique hunting techniques and both have big attitudes! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Blake
WA

 

[turbo36]

Is there a bird feeder close to where you saw this Hawk? We have a Coopers hawk that hangs around our feeders. One day I was by the picture window and he landed on the deck railing about 10" from me, pretty impressive. But not as impressive as the Bald Eagle that hunts our shorline on a regular basis in the winter and spring, our cottage is on a bank that is 15-20' above the lake and he will glide at eye level sometimes /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.