I had a good birding trip yesterday to Gloucester and Rockport, MA. I was hoping to see the Slaty-Backed Gull that had been spotted there recently. I didn't see that bird, but I did get some nice pictures of some Harlequin Ducks, Purple Sandpipers and a juvenile Sharp-Shinned Hawk.
Your purple sandpipers and Harlequin's are great. You might take a look at your Sharp-shinned's tail. It looks long and rounded, which means Cooper's to me. Thanks for sharing. Van
Your purple sandpipers and Harlequin's are great. You might take a look at your Sharp-shinned's tail. It looks long and rounded, which means Cooper's to me. Thanks for sharing. Van
Hi Van,
Here is a crappy shot that shows the tail better:
Here the tail doesn't look as rounded. I was also basing the sharp-shinned ID on the small size of this bird. What do you think?
When the tail is fanned like the one you provided, it is hard to tell. I based may call on Photo #6. Sharpies usually have a square or slightly notched tail feathers. Sizes can very quite a bit. I've seen some really small Cooper's males, that would almost equal a large female Sharpie. Your shots are wonderful. The small Accipiters seem to always cause some discussion on not perfect specimens. Just my thoughts.
When the tail is fanned like the one you provided, it is hard to tell. I based may call on Photo #6. Sharpies usually have a square or slightly notched tail feathers. Sizes can very quite a bit. I've seen some really small Cooper's males, that would almost equal a large female Sharpie. Your shots are wonderful. The small Accipiters seem to always cause some discussion on not perfect specimens. Just my thoughts.
Van
I agree that the tail makes it look like a tiny Cooper's Hawk... and that these little brown guys are hard to identify!
OK- I think you've convinced me that is a Coopers Hawk. I was looking at the overall shape of the tail previously. When I look at the individual feathers in the tail, as Van suggested, I can see they are rounded like on a Coopers.
