What is this cool little bird?

[casportpony]

The sharp shinned hawk has a totally different color and pattern to it's chest. This may be a small one, but I think it is a Cooper's Hawk. The colors and patterns fit exactly. The Kestrel has very distinctive facial patterns, this is not a Kestrel. What else fits that lives in this area????

This was so much smaller that the coopers hawk.

 

[casportpony]

Cooper's sitting on the same fence.

 

[Alexandra33]

Sharp-shinned Hawk, likely. Their coloration is identical to a Cooper's Hawk, with the exception of smaller size. Definitely not a Kestrel.

The sharp shinned hawk has a totally different color and pattern to it's chest.

Are you thinking of juvenile plumage? Both are nearly identical. Only differences happen to be size, and head shape.

~Alex

 

[bobbi-j]

Looks like a Sparrow Hawk. AKA American Kestrel.

 

[Alexandra33]

Here is a male and female Kestrel -

~Alex

 

[roosterhavoc]

Sharp shinned hawk

 

[Peppercorngal]

Cooper's sitting on the same fence.

This looks more like the Merlin, I don't think it's a Coopers hawk. Coopers do not have the stripe above the eye. And the chest pattern is not the right color for a Coopers. Great Photo by the way!

 

[Peppercorngal]

Sharp-shinned Hawk, likely. Their coloration is identical to a Cooper's Hawk, with the exception of smaller size. Definitely not a Kestrel.

Are you thinking of juvenile plumage? Both are nearly identical. Only differences happen to be size, and head shape.

~Alex

Yes, the females do look the same Sharp Shinned and Coopers, but the males are different in coloring. I don't know! You take some great photos!

 

[centrarchid]

Cooper's sitting on the same fence.

Immature Coopers Hawk sitting on same fence.

 

[aart]

Yep, keep in mind immature birds can really throw off ID's.
I have no idea what the OP bird is...other than gorgeous bird and photo.