What kind of hawk is this? Cooper’s, Broad-winged, or Sharp-shinned?
Tina from Pennsylvania sent in this picture, and all I can say is WOW! What a great picture! It’s obviously a hawk, but we’re both stumped on what kind of hawk it is. I’ve looked through my guide book and checked all over the internet, but I go back and forth. Right now I’m slightly leaning toward a Cooper’s Hawk, but it could easily be a Sharp-shinned Hawk or a Broad-winged Hawk. All the brown on top leads me more in the direction of the Broad-winged Hawk. Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned hawks are more of a blue-gray. Still, this picture almost has a hint of some blue-gray colored feathers on top in the sunlight.
Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned hawks also have a strong red eye color that I’m not sure this one has. Hard to say if the eye is yellow or orange in the shadow, but it doesn’t look red to me. On the flip side, the Broad-winged Hawk pictures I’ve seen seem to have more of a brown and white equal combination on the breast; this one looks predominantly brown with just some white markings. All three have at least summer range in Pennsylvania.
So, chime in and share your opinion, whether you’re a hawk expert or not. Do some checking, leave a comment, and let’s solve this beautiful mystery! By the way, I was going to add some other pics today that I shot plus one from Betsy in TN, but this photo was stand-alone good! Thanks, Tina! Dave
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Comments
Wow! Beautiful hawk shot! I’m guessing Coopers…it looks big – but then photos are deceiving when it comes to size.
Tina has sent in another photo that gives a better look at the hawk’s back and eye color. I’ll post it ASAP in another entry!
Thanks Iris and Bird Girl for your nice comments on the pictures, and my kudos to Dave for having this blog and posting the photos! Depending on where you live, Iris, they may be coming your way! It is my understanding that raptor migration started in Penn. around mid-August! :)
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That is an awesome photo! Tina, send that photogenic bird our way, willya? But which hawk is it? I’m going to guess Cooper’s, but without a clear shot of the tail, I wouldn’t put money on it. Seems too big to be a sharpie, which are jay-size, and the legs don’t look like the spindly little stick legs of a sharpie. Coloration is deceptive, especially this time of year. Cooper’s hawks’ irises are yellow when they fledge, eventually turning orange and then red as they mature. So…youngish Cooper’s hawk is my official guess. But the gang at Cornell could give a more expert opinion.
If only we could get these birds to wear name tags. I’ve been puzzling over what I thought was a standard red-eyed vireo, only to get a really good look today and think slow-migrating worm-eating warbler. Now I just have to get a photo. Such puzzles!