April 27 Email:
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| Ric,
While out photographing White-throated Sparrows in our back yard this morning, I had these two hawks make several passes around the yard. Bird 1 was chasing bird 2. I think bird 1 might be a young Cooper's based on the yellow eye color and longer tail. Bird 2 might be a Sharp-shinned but I cannot be sure. Was hoping you could either confirm my ID or set me straight.
Thanks,
Rick Hamlin
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3 comments:
Thanks, Rick, for thinking I could set anybody straight on birding ID (inside chuckle), but since you asked, I'll give my thoughts and then we'll wait for others to chime in. I think the tail feathers graduating from longer inners to shorter outers make Bird 1 a Coop, along with its thin breast streaking, eye closer to the front of its head and substantial feet. Your call of Sharpie for Bird 2 may also be right, but there are things I wish I could see better on that bird (like its tail or the color of its nape). Its toothpick feet look Sharpyish but its face looks Cooperish. I'm looking forward to what others have to say about Bird 2.
Thanks Ric. To add to my previous comments, as these birds flew past, bird 2 looked significantly smaller than bird 1.
That leans the scales decidedly toward Bird 2 being a Sharpie.
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