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Who am I?
Posted: Jan 18, 2011 12:01 pm
by viktoria
This guy grabbed lunch at the bird feeder outside our kitchen window and perched in a nearby lilac to chow down. At first I thought him a kestrel because that is the small predator we most often see here and the size is right, but enlarged photos show banding on the tail. Merlin? I don't see the markings on the face for either species but this could be a juvenile, which would explain the white spots (molting?) on the back.
Viktoria
Re: Who am I?
Posted: Jan 18, 2011 8:40 pm
by govgirl75
I think it might be a sparrow hawk. They are small and have banding on their tails.
Re: Who am I?
Posted: Jan 19, 2011 9:56 am
by viktoria
The photo here
http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/sparrowha ... -8983.html sure looks like the same bird, although my photo is nowhere near so clear (shot through window and screen). What I do not understand is why neither my Peterson nor Audubon bird books show sparrow hawk (
Accipiter nisus). If it is not supposed to live here, what was it doing in my yard.
Viktoria
Re: Who am I?
Posted: Jan 19, 2011 11:56 am
by govgirl75
Oh, I think I might have been wrong. It looks more like a Cooper's hawk. Has the same markings on the closed wings and tail banding with a squared off tail. Do you have Cooper's where you live?
Re: Who am I?
Posted: Jan 19, 2011 6:43 pm
by viktoria
I believe Cooper's is larger. This one is jay-sized, 10-13", or the size of the kestrels I am accustomed to seeing.
Viktoria
Re: Who am I?
Posted: Jan 19, 2011 8:44 pm
by Chris_W
Here is a slightly adjusted picture for you. That is really amazing how close to the sparrow hawk this looks!
Re: Who am I?
Posted: Jan 20, 2011 4:33 pm
by steg
how about a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.... (10-14")
http://www.discoverseaz.com/Wildlife/SharpShinned.html
Smaller version of a Coopers Hawk
Re: Who am I?
Posted: Jan 20, 2011 5:22 pm
by viktoria
The sparrow hawk seems a better match, although I did consider the sharp-shinned hawk as well. I do not see a notch in the tail but the description does say that it is not always present.
Saw the bird again today but it flew off as I was trying to photograph it.
Viktoria
Re: Who am I?
Posted: Jan 23, 2011 1:24 pm
by viktoria
Today's photos show the notch in the tail. Photos on the Internet show white spots on the back of juveniles. I do believe it is a sharp-shinned haw.
Viktoria