Sharp-Shinned Hawk (was What is this cool little bird?)

[Hamiam]

@007Sean, your final answer? I'm still not sure????
When @TexasSam told me about Cooper's Hawks being good hunters thru the woods, I was surprised. I thought I was keeping the hawk risk lower by free ranging the hens in the post oak forest. I learn something new everyday from the members here.

 

[NikAndHerChicks]

I have pictures of a Cooper's Hawk too, and it was larger than a crow.

Yep. They look a lot alike & are easy to get mixed up... the size is the main way to tell them apart. We have Red tails also, they are larger than the Cooper's, but unless you can see the underneath of their tail, it can be hard to tell the difference of them also!

 

[Hamiam]

Very cool pictures here:
https://feederwatch.org/blog/sharp-shinned-hawk-versus-coopers-hawk/

Very cool! That helps!

 

[casportpony]

Yep. They look a lot alike & are easy to get mixed up... the size is the main way to tell them apart. We have Red tails also, they are larger than the Cooper's, but unless you can see the underneath of their tail, it can be hard to tell the difference of them also!

People told me this is a Red Tail:

 

[Soleil_A]

very pretty photos

 

[Wishing4Wings]

The gray coloring is typical of adult male Cooper's and Sharp Shins. Immature birds have the brown/barred coloring of the females of the breed.

ah, maybe a regional difference then, the females being browner. All my western bird guides say adults only differ in size.

 

[casportpony]

The size difference between the Red Tail, Cooper's, and Sharp Shinned is huge!

 

[Trish1974]

Where is @centrarchid he will know!

 

[casportpony]

The gray coloring is typical of adult male Cooper's and Sharp Shins. Immature birds have the brown/barred coloring of the females of the breed.

What about the eyes? Do they change color as they get older?

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Easy to tell if you are holding one of each!