Hawk id please?

ams2009

15 years ago

Saw this hawk perched on a lamp post when passing by a backyard burgers restaurant, figured it was a red tailed hawk due to location, but wasn't sure once I uploaded and got a closer look at the streaking on the chest and belly, pictures I've found of juvenile red tailed hawks don't show same streaking as this hawk has, so wanted to see if someone could tell me if this is a red tAiled and if not, what kind of hawk is it? Wasn't able to get a look at the length of the tail feathers, any help appreciated! Thanks

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Comments (4)

alan_la
15 years ago
Looks like a Juvenile Coopers Hawk To me.
ams2009
Original Author
15 years ago
That's what I wanted to say after google searching for pics, but location had me thinking it wasn't a cooper's! Wish I would have taken more pics, I've only seen one cooper's before, always see red tails so assumed this was just another red! Thanks!
alan_la
15 years ago
Coopers are just about everyware at most times of the year,
especialy in gardens around bird feeders.
ams2009
Original Author
15 years ago
Before this one, I'd only seen a cooper's, aside from flyovers, once since i started bird watching. It was perched on neighbors HAM radio antenna, and I was able to get a few pics of it. Before I started bird watching, I saw, what I now am pretty sure was, a cooper's hawk try to catch a blue jay that was perched in one of my crepe Myrtle trees, right in front of me, he missed though! Everything I've ever reAd about cooper's, describes them as being "uncommon" in urban areas and lists them As "forest dwelling hawks" which is what made me doubt this hawk was a cooper's, and also why I usually assume it's a red tailed when I see hawks in busy/urban areas, now I'll make sure to take a closer look! Thanks!