p.2 #3 · Is this a Cooper's Hawk? (UPDATE: we have an answer!)
Steve in your last photo this shows the trouble I have with saying its a Cooper. Look at the tail bars on yours and on the original post.Yet in all my years of being around raptors I have found that plumage can be fooling and it could very well be a Cooper. As for a red shouldr welll here is a link to 5 years of nest monitoring them so maybe you or Chris can see some of the young as being close . I see the red shoulder youngster as being a darker bird with its bars unless the PP on this original has made it apear light. Either way they are very nice photos and should be ID correctley so maybe if you want Chris I can send it off to the raptor center and see what my friends say about it there. Here is a RS link http://www.loubuscher.com/Red%20Shoulder%20Nesting.htm
Lou
p.2 #4 · Is this a Cooper's Hawk? (UPDATE: we have an answer!)
Chris Willis wrote:
So Lou, are you saying it is a red-shoulder or are you just trying to confuse me more?
Chris
No Chris just trying to help you get a right ID for these great photos. I showed the Red Shoulder as a possible chance cause as I say with many raptors the plumage can be different and thats why we hav both dark and light colors of many species. Deep down I feel it is a young cooper as the belly is so much lighter with bars than the R/S. Still I'm not sure.
Lou
p.2 #5 · Is this a Cooper's Hawk? (UPDATE: we have an answer!)
Lou and Steve, thank you very much for your assistance with this ID. And thank you both for the sample comparison pictures. The Atlanta area birders who have looked at these pictures have all gone with the Cooper's identification, although I have not had the same level of discussion with them as has occurred on this thread. I am still leaning toward a red-shouldered, as I am finding the tail length difficult to get over to call it a Cooper's.
In case it helps, here is an additional picture of the same bird. This one was taken while it was in a shady area, so maybe you can see a little more of the back color. Also, I think I see a faint hint of banding in the tail -- maybe that helps, I don't know.
Lou, I would love for you to send the pictures to the raptor center and get their opinion on the idenitification. Just tell them to go to www.pbase.com/cwillis/raptors and look at the first 9 pictures in the gallery -- they are all of this same bird. Unfortunately, I did not get a variety of different poses, as the hawk just sat still in a location where I could only approach from one angle, then flew away. But please let me know what they say, as I am interested to get as much input as possible.
p.2 #6 · Is this a Cooper's Hawk? (UPDATE: we have an answer!)
Lou, Chris, When I first saw the shot I was convinced it was a Cooper's also. I then looked at some of my shots and was not as sure. I then pulled out my bird books and decided for the red-shouldered. I will admit that I don't have a real good reason for this opinion! The tail banding is an issue as is the eye color that might have been due to light and color temp - ?? The feather detail on the chest is similar. Maybe the fellow just had a short tail or the branch was bigger than it looked. But if it was my shot I would go along with Lou's thoughts based on his long experience and knowledge. Steve W
p.2 #9 · Is this a Cooper's Hawk? (UPDATE: we have an answer!)
Doug Bentlage wrote:
Excellent shots Chris! Detail, color and texture is spot on, great work!
Doug
Thanks, Doug, I really appreciate your comments. In this instance, I think the hawk deserves most of the credit, since it sat so still for me and let me get so close!
p.2 #11 · Is this a Cooper's Hawk? (UPDATE: we have an answer!)
My guess: Juvenile Red Shouldered, that amber eye is pretty un-typical for Coopers. If you wish I can email this photo to Pete Bloom, the county biologist who runs the bird banding program here in the OC
p.2 #13 · Is this a Cooper's Hawk? (UPDATE: we have an answer!)
Laura Hughes wrote:
My guess: Juvenile Red Shouldered, that amber eye is pretty un-typical for Coopers. If you wish I can email this photo to Pete Bloom, the county biologist who runs the bird banding program here in the OC
Laura, I would definitely be interested to see what Pete says about the ID. Please let me know what he says and thanks for offering to ask him about this.
p.2 #19 · Is this a Cooper's Hawk? (UPDATE: we have an answer!)
Lil Judd wrote:
Great news - - we have an answer.....
Lil
You nailed it Lil, we don't see many posts of this species, they are great looking raptors. When I first sent this photo to Pete for ID I forgot to mention the location...almost started a stampede of birders to OC for the rarest sighting in history...
But if it was my shot I would go along with Lou's thoughts based on his long experience and knowledge. Steve W 