This is a tough photo. But, based on the shape of the head and the profile, I may have to go with Sharp-shinned Hawk...but I am not totally convinced of my ID.

BN

I'd lean towards a sharpie as well. How big was it? Jay or crow sized?

tj

Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell ID Guide

i would say a little bigger than a dove or jay and fuller body. and maybe a litle smaller than the crows i get here.
after it flew i went out and measured the sizes of the links in the fence and also in the picture measured the length of the bird and the number of links compared to it and it comes out almost exactly 14 inches from head to tail. Which is just about the crossover size between Coopers and Sharpie. also in the picture it appeared to have a square tip on tail which says maybe sharpie. and the chest appears to be light streaking maybe coopers.

The head/beak profile indicates Sharpie, probably a female, since Coopers have an upper beak profile that seems to converge with the top of its head

14 inches from head to tail. Which is just about the crossover size between Coopers and Sharpie.

It would be more accurate to say 14 inches is the average size of a Male Cooper's and a female Sharpie.

The average size of a male Sharpie is 10 inches. A female Coop is 21.

Just as you used your fence to determine the size, we did a similar thing with pictures we took of a juvenile Sharpie female and a juvenile male Cooper's sitting on the same fence. We manipulated one of the pictures to have the board the same width as the board in the other picture. This makes the birds' sizes in porportion to the fence and each other.

We put the pictures side by side in a single picture. It is clear you can not tell a size difference between them.

BN and all. We put the lines on the picture to show how to tell the difference. Bud Anderson of the Falcon Research Group in Bow, WA, FRG.org, is the only one we have heard speak to this I.D. tip. He claims a Coop is the only hawk type bird in that size range with that head shape in profile. Once you learn to look for the head shape first, as we have, it is much easier to determine if the bird is a Coop.

All birds are never still. They are either looking side to side for food or to keep from becoming food. If you are looking with binoculars, it is easy to see even if the bird is not cloose. I f you are taking pictures, take a lot. You will get some with the head in profile.

Most people, us included, usually choose the pictures we like best when the bird is looking at us because they look fiercer. I believe a lot of the pictures are posted with that in mind, even when the submitter has pictures in profile. Bob of BnB

{{!gwi}}

Great tip. Thanks, Bob.

tj

Neat photo illustration! They show what I just said about the top of the beak profile line converging with the top of its head.

This is all so very interesting to me, and I so appreciate the opportunity to learn. I do have Cooper's Hawks and Red tailed Hawks around my yard from time to time. I have never seen a Sharpie as far as I know. Now that I have seen this illustration of the differences, I will be looking really carefully next time a Cooper's Hawk flies into my yard. Thanks guys!!~~Angie

This is always an interesting ID question. Found a neat site on this very subject: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterphoto.htm
May not clear anything up but interesting. Years ago, and I mean years ago, I had access to a book on the subject of tail feather comparison in these two and it said, and proved by pictures, this ID usage can be quite flawed. Now that I think about it, I was working for a wildlife biologist, at the time, in who's presence I made the remark of ID'ing one species from the other by tail comparison. He quicky handed me this book and said I better re-think my comment.
I would love to have that book today, oh well.
Nice discussion you guys.
Thanks dklucius.
Mike

Bud Anderson of Falcon Research Group spoke to using the tail shape and stripe during a conversation on a local bird email list from the U of Washington, Tweeters.

One has more of a square tail while the other is rounded. The white stripe on the tip of the tail is wider on one than the other. He spoke to some color differences as well.

He went on to say that was all well and good as long as the bird had just gone through a molt. Depending on lots of factors, a once square tail could be round from wear and tear. A wide stripe could become more narrow for the same reason. Sun fades colors. They will be brighter after a molt and duller as they fade.

For those reasons he recommended looking for the beak and head shape. He stated a Sharpie has a forehead of sorts, a Coop's head and beak looks like a continuous line.

We showed him the picture we posted. He said it is what he is talking about. BnB