Can you help? Who is this bird?

denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,405 moderator
edited November 14, 2007 in Wildlife
I wasn't able to capture this guy in the open, only perched high in a tree. This photo was taken in Death Valley National Park, in Furnace Creek - an oasis of green in the midst of the desert. I believe it is a hawk of some sort, but the photos I've found online as I searched for identification didn't really help. At first I thought maybe it is a Swainson's Hawk, but then again I wasn't really sure.

Bird list for Death Valley National Park is at http://www.nps.gov/deva/naturescience/upload/DEVA_Birdlist.pdf.

220048213-XL.jpg

Any ideas?
Oh, and thanks for looking!

--- Denise

Comments

  • GraphyFotozGraphyFotoz Registered Users Posts: 2,267 Major grins
    edited November 11, 2007
    It's a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.

    Coarse brown streaks on chest identify it.
    According to my Sibley's Guide.

    They are Rare to uncommon in that area and a nice find!! thumb.gif
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  • denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,405 moderator
    edited November 11, 2007
    It's a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.

    Coarse brown streaks on chest identify it.
    According to my Sibley's Guide.

    They are Rare to uncommon in that area and a nice find!! thumb.gif
    Thank you so much!

    --- Denise
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited November 11, 2007
    Actually that's a Cooper's Hawk. The Streaks on a Sharp-shinned are more brown than rufous, and the pattern is more streaklike than barred. These guys are quite likely to vist your birdfeeders if you have them!
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • jonh68jonh68 Registered Users Posts: 2,711 Major grins
    edited November 11, 2007
    Ditto on cooper's.
  • GraphyFotozGraphyFotoz Registered Users Posts: 2,267 Major grins
    edited November 14, 2007
    Dunno maybe I'm wrong? headscratch.gifne_nau.gif
    They do look both VERY similar.
    Sharp Shinned = Has coarse brown streaks + Legs are thin (Which is what I see)
    Coopers = Thin dark streaks + Legs are fatter (Which I don't see)

    It's the Sharp Shinned that is known to hit birds at the feeder!

    Here you decide.....links from Cornell

    Sharp Shinned

    http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Sharp-shinned_Hawk.html

    Coopers

    http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Coopers_Hawk_dtl.html
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  • denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,405 moderator
    edited November 14, 2007
    Well, after reading both descriptions and looking at the photos - which honestly don't help me much! - I could be swayed by either argument. The things that jumped out at me...

    The Cooper's Hawk "Dark crown contrasts with nape, and Tail ends in white tail band, back dark gray or gray-brown, underparts barred reddish and white."

    And yet, the Sharp-shinned hawk "Tail long, barred, and ends with a square tip, adults with blue-gray back and wings, reddish barring on underparts." Yup, those things are true too.

    Having two reasonable choices feels better than no reasonable choices - maybe it's a built-in excuse to go back to Death Valley. Too bad I live on the opposite side of the country!

    Thanks to all for jumping in.

    --- Denise
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited November 14, 2007
    you can see the field id of these 2 birds is not just hard but impossible eek7.gif the best way is to [after you have seen a few ] tell the size cooper is bigger sharpie is smaller but they are almost twins :D
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

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  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited November 14, 2007
    I think we should just agree to call this one an Accipitor! :D

    I went to a talk by a local biologist about raptors in my area. Unlike a lot of raptors the Cooper's Hawk has been able to adapt very well to suburban habitat. Especially as the neigborhoods trees mature. But both the Sharpies and the Coopers will visit bird feeders, and baths.
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited November 14, 2007
    I think his name is Gregory.ne_nau.gifrolleyes1.gif
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