Anybody good at identifyling birds of prey? Pic included.

[Miss Lydia]

aww I am sorry,

 

[dinahmoe]

Quote:
here are 2 pictures of a juvinile northern goshawk.

 

[Minniechickmama]

You know what? I am going back to believing it is a Northern Goshawk. Maybe a little on the light side still, but I am convinced.

 

[Junkmanme]

Apparently there are at least 2 of those Hawks that are good at "posing". (They are probably related.)

Just a couple of "Camera-Hams" !

Ha-Ha !!!
-Junkmanme-

 

[ntink17]

A description from Cornell University of immature northern goshawk says, "Immature Description Brown above and heavily streaked below. Back with some white or cinnamon streaks and white spots. Tail dark brown with jagged dark bars. Underparts whitish with broad dark brown streaks. Pale eyebrow stripe usually visible on brown head. Eyes yellow."

I would have bet on a Coopers Hawk at first, but the white eyebrow strip that is very apparent is off for a Cooper's. According to the Cornell info Cooper's hawks are similar in appearance but lack the eyebrow stripe. that is my two cents anyways, I'm definately not an expert!

 

[trailgurl]

No matter what exact kind of hawk it is, it's still a hawk and will get your girls and guys if he gets a chance there was one out side my house the other day, just eyeing my girls

 

[cgmccary]

This is a real hard I.D. because it is either a juvenile Cooper's Hawk or a juvenile Northern Goshawk. If I saw this bird here in Alabama, I would say definitely "COOPER'S HAWK" because of the rarity of the Goshawk showing up here (there are documented sightings but VERY, VERY rare). However, the OP is in Ontario and that makes it more of a challenge I.D. Both look similar as juveniles. Also, there are variations in the juveniles Cooper's Hawks and Goshawks so you cannot go by chest markings and eyebrows per se alone. You might not be able to tell from the two pictures. I'm going to do some comparisons and see if it can be discerned.

You can't go by eyebrow alone because SOME juvenile Cooper's have it and some don't. Usually, the Goshawk's is a little stronger marked eyebrow than pictured, but there is too much variation to use that criteria alone. Because of where the OP is located, I would expect it to be a juvenile Northern Goshawk rather than a juvenile Cooper's hawk (the Cooper's is more likely to be that far north in the summer but not in winter whereas the Goshawk stays there year round). I emailed the picture to a real bird expert and will let you know what he says.

Thanks for the pictures & the challenge.

 

[stirkle]

whatever it is its magnificent!

 

[taraann81]

I realize vvhat ever it is it is here for my birds. But I have alvvays been facinated by the birds of prey! Plus knovvledge is never a vvaste of time, that is the reason I am so interested in vvich species it is!

Looking forvvard to hearing vvhat the bird expert has to say. I am in south vvestern ontario, about an hr from the detroit border if that makes a difference.

 

[desertdarlene]

I was going to say Cooper's hawk, but then I saw the tail and the bill and I think immature goshawk would be correct. I've never seen one in person, so I can't say for sure. Be careful, I hear they can take down large birds like large chickens and ducks.