The first pic she posted is a Cooper's, but it looks a bit different than the ones we have here in Tucson (the second link didn't work for me). I started my post before constance posted and got distracted before I finished and missed her post. I agree that it sounds like a Cooper's. They are very common, and with your size description, that pretty much seals it. Also, you mentioned the horizontal brown stripes. You can't see them well in either my photo or the one constance provided, but it's a pronounced characteristic of the species. The other potential species is the Harris hawk (they typically hunt in family groups) but the color description doesn't match (good thing too, those guys are like the wolves of the sky). All my birds are pretty big, but I remember a few stand-offs with the Cooper's walking around the tractor to get in at them when they were teenagers and around the same time there were several stand-offs between the hawk and the dog. The hawk eventually ignored the chickens and would take prey in the yard mere feet away from me. I really miss that bird, but I'd be a bit worried if I had mid-sized or smaller birds.
ETA: it could also be a Sharpshinned. That would be even better. They are very difficult to distinguish from Cooper's, but are noticeably smaller.
ETA: it could also be a Sharpshinned. That would be even better. They are very difficult to distinguish from Cooper's, but are noticeably smaller.
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