Coopers or Sharp Shinned Hawk?

[mevertsen]

We have a hawk which has been a fall winter resident for at least the last couple years. It absolutely destroys the sparrows, which we like because they destroy our chicken feed in the winter. Cool having it around.

We are certain its a Coopers or Sharp Shinned. It has been a challenge to get a clear, defined picture or video.

Its been quite photogenic this morning.

I'm leaning towards male Sharp shinned but still cant be sure.

Heres some still pics and screenshot from a video as it went over my daughter's head at 10 feet.

Power box pole is 8 inch for reference. Tree limbs its sitting on are less than 1.5 inches, maybe closer to 1 inch.

 

[Hammsolo]

I think a male Cooper’s, but that’s a tough one. It’s hard to tell size and the lighting isn’t great. The flight picture does little good, but the rooster picture helps. The darker head and darker bluish back is what leans me that way.

 

[El Jason]

Cooper’s.

 

[gouch]

The best way to tell the difference between a large Sharp Shin and a small Cooper's is the shape of the tail. The Sharp Shin's tail is flat across the bottom, and the Cooper's is more rounded. In your first picture the tail looks flat like a Sharp Shin but in the second picture it looks a little more rounded like a Cooper's. If that is a 4x4 post in the third picture, then I would say the size looks more like a Sharp Shin.

I am leaning towards Sharp Shin.

 

[Gellar]

Coopers.

 

[mevertsen]

The best way to tell the difference between a large Sharp Shin and a small Cooper's is the shape of the tail. The Sharp Shin's tail is flat across the bottom, and the Cooper's is more rounded. In your first picture the tail looks flat like a Sharp Shin but in the second picture it looks a little more rounded like a Cooper's. If that is a 4x4 post in the third picture, then I would say the size looks more like a Sharp Shin.

I am leaning towards Sharp Shin.

The post is 8x8 power pole. Made me think coopers.

The flat tail had me as well. Made me think sharp shinned.

So difficult to get a good pic of him.
Its either late or early in the day, or he's hiding out in our firewood lean to or some such, or he's roosted in a bad spot in the trees. Open the door and he's gone. Trying to get a good pic through the window or cracking the door slightly. Flighty little thing but he kills the tweety birds for sure.

He leaves dead bird parts all over the yard, garden, by posts, under trees.

 

[Oak]

Vote for Cooper’s.

Here’s a crappy photo of a Sharp-shinned on a 4”x4” post.

 

[mevertsen]

Okay. I think he's bigger than @Oak picture. And darker as well.

I think he's a cooper.


Thanks guys.