This is one of the little stinkers thats been trying to peg off all my chickens. Is it a Coopers? He looked a bit bigger than a Coopers to me though... Also..he had NO fear... sat right there watching us...think he stuck his tounge out and flipped us the bird too...
My brother says that it is a Broad winged hawk. ETA: they eat birds, mammals, amphibians, insects, and reptiles. they swoop down from a perch to catch their food and they remove the feathers from the birds before they eat them, so if you find a pile of feathers that's where your chicken went.
I would go with either coopers or sharp shin. If you think it is big, then more likely coopers. Coops will come down for full sized chickens, even though they are too small to carry one off. Keep your eyes peeled and chase it off if it comes down for a chicken. I have never had to chase off a hawk more than once before it decided chicken hunting is not worth the effort.
sharp shinned hawks are tiny hawks - a man can hold one in his hand easily... much smaller then even a bantam. cooper's are the length of a man's arm, large foul sized. broad shoulder hawks are between those other two in size, bantam size kinda.
Look at the markings on the tail and the white belly. It a coopers. http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/birds/ohio_birds/Juvenile_Cooper_s_Hawk.html
Hey - are you stealing my hawk? Looks like Coop - the Coopers that hangs out around here. He has never hurt my chickens, but hunts the doves, pigeons, house sparrows and other little birds that seem to like the chicken feed.
Juvenile Coopers Hawk. Looks female but need something to help determine size. Potential threat to small or lone chicken especially if cover options lacking.