What kind of hawk is this in my backyard?( Pictures)

[chickengeorgeto]

Likely a sharp shinned or blue darter hawk.

 

[zazouse]

Maybe a Sharp Shinned or Merlin - hard to tell.

I agree with you on the Sharp-shinned hawk.

 

[zazouse]

sorry double post

 

[centrarchid]

Let's avoid using "blue darter" as we used to use it for both Coopers hawk and sharp-shunned.

 

[ivan3]

Let's avoid using "blue darter" as we used to use it for both Coopers hawk and sharp-shunned.

Just a tip-o-the-hat for preventing this member from being further "Sharp Shunned" re: raptor ID:

Thread with a `Merlin'/`Cooper's' (not) with shots (close-ups of Sharp Shinned):

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/741968/hawk-attack-today-help-identify-this-one-please

 

[chickenlover73]

Too to tell, could be a red tail hawk, a merlin, a falcon, a spotted hawk, a peregrine, too far to tell, but is not an osprey or anything bigger.

 

[K-12 Chickens]

The size of the bird and the long tail point to immature Cooper's Hawk, but I can't rule out an immature female Sharp-shinned Hawk which is similar in size to an immature male Cooper's Hawk (in hawks and other birds-of-prey, the female is larger than the male).
A Red-tailed Hawk would be bulkier and larger, lack the long tail, have a distinct "V" of white scapulars on the back and a belly band consisting of dark-colored streaks. Merlins are quite small--just a bit larger than an American Kestrel and almost resemble a dove or pigeon in flight.

 

[marktoo]

I'm thinking either a Sharp Shinned or Cooper because of the tail,beyond that can't tell.

 

[sourland]

Bars on the tail visible in the second picture, along with the size say that's a sharp-shinned hawk. Could be a small cooper's also, but I can't see the legs and end of tail shape.

X 2 most likely a Sharp Shinned or possibly an immature Cooper's male. Way too small and wrong conformation for a redtail.