March 5, 2026
The Sky’s the Limit for This Birder
Fewer than 500 people worldwide have reported seeing this African bird – a blue-moustached bee-eater. Photo by Marc Chelemer By…
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
March 16, 2009
Monday Morning Mystery 031609
There I was, sitting in my living room, minding my own bidness, when this raptor comes zipping down the trail. I grabbed my camera and zipped down my driveway.
My first instinct was Sharpie, not to be confused with this similar species.
Perched raptors can be tough to ID. What do you think?
Click here for more memorable Monday Morning Mysteries.
9 comments
-
I’d have to go with Coopers. Check out this site http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm
-
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm
look far more like a coopers too me. (John does a nice breakdown) -
Great shot what ever it turnes out to be!
-
I’d say Cooper’s Hawk. Juvenile.
Juv. accipiters are harder to ID, especially when they are perched and not flying. My general rule of thumb for juvs is:
Cooper’s has thinner underside streaks (like this one); Sharp-shinned are coarser (and often give the undersides a “messy” look).
Cooper’s head often has visible hackles (like this one), which make the head look more angular; Sharp-shinned’s head often looks rounder, smaller. (There are exceptions, of course, as in all important things)
Legs (if you can see them at all): Cooper’s are thicker; Sharp-shinned thinner (hence the name). This one has feet that look like Coop to me. Not as boney as sharp-shinned.
Less reliable is the “eyebrow”. Sharp-shinned’s is I think usu. not as prominent as on this bird. Cooper’s has a more prominent pale eyebrow, part of which is the bare yellow supraorbital ridge which shows through the feathers. Much more prominent on the adult Coop.
But all of this is subject to debate. And the size of the bird (Cooper’s is bigger than Sharpy) isn’t possible to tell from a photo. Jim, could you nail a ruler or meter stick on that rail so that next time we’ll know something about the bird’s size? Thanks!
John W. -
Because of my immaturity as a birder, I certainly haven’t earned my stripes–but because it IT’S stripes, I’m going to make a guess that the bird is an immature something–maybe even a sharpie (not a shar pei–not enough wrinkles)or a Cooper’s.
And chances are that I will receive many stripes (the kind produced by a whip) by the experts in the crowd.
TB -
There is a very good picture on this web site of a Cooper’s Hawk that looks very much like the raptor in your picture. http://www.weeksbay.org/photo_gallery/raptors/raptors.htm
-
Go to http://www.weeksbay.org/photo_gallery/raptors/raptors.htm there is a picture of a Cooper’s Hawk tht looks very similar to your picture.
-
Not a Shar Pei!
-
Cooper’s Hawk??
Leave your comment
Related Post
March 3, 2026
First Review: ‘The Peregrine Falcon’
I am pleased to share Booklist's magazine of my upcoming book... The Peregrine Falcon: The Epic Life and Times of…February 27, 2026
Revolutionary News!
On Thursday, the Allendale Borough Council plans to honor Founding Father John Fell, who was known as the "Great Tory…
February 20, 2026
World’s Largest Pigeon!
For a limited time only, The High Line in Manhattan is home to "Dinosaur," a huge statue of a pigeon…
9 comments
owlman
I’d have to go with Coopers. Check out this site http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm
scott
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm
look far more like a coopers too me. (John does a nice breakdown)
Barbara
Great shot what ever it turnes out to be!
John W.
I’d say Cooper’s Hawk. Juvenile.
Juv. accipiters are harder to ID, especially when they are perched and not flying. My general rule of thumb for juvs is:
Cooper’s has thinner underside streaks (like this one); Sharp-shinned are coarser (and often give the undersides a “messy” look).
Cooper’s head often has visible hackles (like this one), which make the head look more angular; Sharp-shinned’s head often looks rounder, smaller. (There are exceptions, of course, as in all important things)
Legs (if you can see them at all): Cooper’s are thicker; Sharp-shinned thinner (hence the name). This one has feet that look like Coop to me. Not as boney as sharp-shinned.
Less reliable is the “eyebrow”. Sharp-shinned’s is I think usu. not as prominent as on this bird. Cooper’s has a more prominent pale eyebrow, part of which is the bare yellow supraorbital ridge which shows through the feathers. Much more prominent on the adult Coop.
But all of this is subject to debate. And the size of the bird (Cooper’s is bigger than Sharpy) isn’t possible to tell from a photo. Jim, could you nail a ruler or meter stick on that rail so that next time we’ll know something about the bird’s size? Thanks!
John W.
Tom Burr
Because of my immaturity as a birder, I certainly haven’t earned my stripes–but because it IT’S stripes, I’m going to make a guess that the bird is an immature something–maybe even a sharpie (not a shar pei–not enough wrinkles)or a Cooper’s.
And chances are that I will receive many stripes (the kind produced by a whip) by the experts in the crowd.
TB
Carolyn
There is a very good picture on this web site of a Cooper’s Hawk that looks very much like the raptor in your picture. http://www.weeksbay.org/photo_gallery/raptors/raptors.htm
Carolyn
Go to http://www.weeksbay.org/photo_gallery/raptors/raptors.htm there is a picture of a Cooper’s Hawk tht looks very similar to your picture.
Deedee Burnside
Not a Shar Pei!
Deedee Burnside
Cooper’s Hawk??