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Photo by Bill Diedrich,
Hurlock, Maryland |
Photo by David Smith,
Grand Junction, Colorado |
Photo by Ellen Gennrich, Brookfield, Wisconson |
Photo by Linda Williams,
Liberty, Missouri |
| Note the broad chest and
narrow hips. Also note the thin, pencil-like legs and relatively small head. The photo on the left shows that all the tail feathers are the same length. |
Note the barrel shaped body, with the widest portion coming about mid chest rather than upper chest. Note also the varied length of the tail feathers. If viewed from behind, the bird on the left would appear to have a square tail in this position. |
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Photo by James Tuomey,
El Prado, New Mexico |
Photo by Maria Corcacas,
Middletown, New York |
Photo by David Smith,
Grand Junction, Colorado |
Photo by Bob Williams,
Huntley, Illinois |
| Note the dark feathers from the top of head, down the nape
of the neck, and to the upper back, giving adult Sharp-shinned Hawks a "hooded" appearance. |
The feathers on the back of the neck of a Cooper's Hawk are lighter than the top of the head, giving the bird a "capped" appearance. Also note the broad white tip to the tail and the relatively large head. |
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Juvenile birds
Both species in juvenile plumage feature vertical stripes on the breast. Eyes are yellow on young birds. |
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Note that the juvenile plumage lacks the hooded effect of the adult Sharp-shinneds Hawks. The heavy striping that extends nearly to the tail and the very thin legs distinguish this hawk from a Cooper's Hawk.
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Note the relative thin, dark stripes on the breast that fade out before reaching the tail. Also note the rounded tail. |
Photo by David Smith,
Grand Junction, Colorado |
Photo by Laura Graham,
Whitewater, Wisconsin |
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Tricky identifications--Juvenile birds |
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The yellowish eyes confirm that this is a juvenile, which makes the light coloring on the back of the neck irrelevant. The tail appears rounded, but only a couple of feathers are visible. Although the head appears large, the body shape, the lack of white at the tip of the tail, and the very thin legs confirm that this is a Sharp-shinned Hawk. |
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The yellow eyes confirm that this is a juvenile, which makes the light coloring on the nape irrelevant. The tail appears squared off, but shorter feathers may be tucked inside of longer ones. The head size, body shape, and white-tipped tail feathers confirm that this is a Cooper's Hawk. |
Photo by Errol Taskin,
Shreveport, Louisiana |
Photo by David Smith,
Grand Junction, Colorado |
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The striping on this bird is dark and not as heavy as on most Sharp-shinneds, but very thin legs, tail feathers of equal length, and a relatively small head confirm Sharp-shinned Hawk. |
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Striping is heavier, more rufous colored, and extends farther down the belly than is typical for Cooper's, but the very thick legs, barrel shaped chest, and large head confirm Cooper's Hawk. |
Photo by Errol Taskin,
Shreveport, Louisiana |
Photo by Michael Wiegand,
Pearl, Idaho |
Transitional plumage
These hawks are in the middle of a molt from juvenile to adult plumage. Note the light rufous horizontal barring in the feathers at the lower belly.
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Adult feathers coming in on the crown give this bird a capped appearance, but the shape, head size, and tail feathers confirm Sharp-shinned. |
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The striping
on this hawk extend well down the
belly, but the very thick
legs, varied length of tail feathers,
body shape, and head size confirm Cooper's. |
Photo by James Tuomey,
El Prado, New Mexico |
Photo by David Smith,
Grand Junction, Colorado |
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