KnotLisa Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 I think this one is a Sharp-shined Hawk, but some others are saying Cooper's. Photos taken near Allentown, PA in late December. Thanks. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PalmWarbler Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 (edited) You are correct, this is a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Note the dark nape (hooded appearance). Nice photos! Edited January 6, 2022 by PalmWarbler 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpa Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Also the spindly legs and chest is much less streaky 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike R. Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Really nice photos! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnotLisa Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 Thanks everyone! Just to be clear, is there any way you could get Cooper's from these photos? Rounded tail is never considered definitive, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Friedman Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Also the small head and jutting-out bill. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floraphile Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 "Skinny Legs and All" 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpa Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 1 hour ago, KnotLisa said: Rounded tail is never considered definitive, right? That's my understanding, however, I believe that field mark is about the shape of the tail in flight. I'm no expert though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpa Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 (edited) One more thing is size. Using a @Charlie Spencer tactic, I'd guess those fence boards are ~4" wide, making the bird roughly 12" long tail to beak. Edited January 6, 2022 by neilpa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 1 hour ago, KnotLisa said: Thanks everyone! Just to be clear, is there any way you could get Cooper's from these photos? Rounded tail is never considered definitive, right? The tail definitely causes a double-take. Â I don't like that much white on the tips and a couple of the feathers looks a tad shorter. Â Any other shots? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Friedman Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 9 minutes ago, neilpa said: That's my understanding, however, I believe that field mark is about the shape of the tail in flight. I'm no expert though. As I understand it, the best mark on tail shape is that the outer feathers (which are on the bottom when the tail is folded) are shorter than the inner ones. On a perched bird that's best seen from below. On this one, you can see in both shots that all the tail feathers are around the same length, and there's certainly no pattern of the outer ones being shorter. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnotLisa Posted January 7, 2022 Author Share Posted January 7, 2022 Yes at chipperatl - I do have a few other shots, but I don't thing any are as definitive as the first two. How about this one, where the end of the tail is accidently cut off. If this was the only shot I had, would you call it Sharp-shinned, Cooper's or Accipiter species? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 16 minutes ago, KnotLisa said: Yes at chipperatl - I do have a few other shots, but I don't thing any are as definitive as the first two. How about this one, where the end of the tail is accidently cut off. If this was the only shot I had, would you call it Sharp-shinned, Cooper's or Accipiter species? Thanks. That shot shows the rounded head you'd expect from a Sharp-shinned. Â 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Does this not show shorter tail feathers on the bottom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Tail feather length is a supporting ID mark, never the one to rely on. Overall size, bug eyed look, and the dark nape make this a Sharpie, no matter what the tail looks like. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 (edited) Oh for sure it looks like a sharpie, just wondering about the tail. Hybrid? Edited January 7, 2022 by PaulK Haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 (edited) 4 minutes ago, PaulK said: Oh for sure it looks like a sharpie, just wondering about the tail. Hybrid? I believe the shorter feathers would be underneath, not on the top. And I think further complicating things can be that the birds molt their tail feathers, and when they are growing back in can look different length. Not saying that's what is going on here, it's just a factor. Feather wear on older feathers can be a factor on birds, too. Tail feather length can be super variable and should only be used as a supporting feature. This is 100% a sharpie. Edited January 7, 2022 by meghann 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 6 hours ago, chipperatl said: The tail definitely causes a double-take.  I don't like that much white on the tips and a couple of the feathers looks a tad shorter.  Any other shots? Uh oh……. Hybrid??  hhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllpppppppppp mmmmmmmeeeeeee 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 11 hours ago, meghann said: This is 100% a sharpie. Yes indeed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnotLisa Posted January 8, 2022 Author Share Posted January 8, 2022 Thanks EVERYONE! This thread has so much interesting detail. Appreciate all the good comments! Hope everyone has found it informational too! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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