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Bird ID from Long Island

16 years ago

Hi,

I don't know much about birds, but i saw this bird in my backyard on long island, and I've never seen anything like it around here in the ~25 years I've lived here. The picture quality isn't that great, but it was taken from indoors on a very basic digital camera (not an SLR or anything). Can somebody please tell me what it is? Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

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Comments (7)

oldned
16 years ago
Looks like a Northern Goshawk
chris8796
16 years ago
While it is difficult to tell from the limited info, I would guess a Juvenile Sharp Shinned Hawk. Looks like an accipter Hawk with the feet and tail. I'm assuming that is a standard patio chair, which would be about 24" wide. That would make the Hawk about 12".

I agree the eyebar makes it look like a Goshawk, but I don't think its close to being big enough, 20-24"
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Thank you so much!! I will do that. First I better tell you the area we're in. We live in Illinois between the Mississippi River and Rock River in the Quad Cities (Ever hear of the Rock Island lines or John Deere of Moline, Illinois?...well, we're from the Rock Island/Moline area.) Here is the wading bird that's so dark looking. I'm so sorry these photos are so small and hard to see...there was a huge marshy area between me and the birds. I'm in the market for a better zoom lens, but WOW have you seen the price of them?? This is the swooper...some sort of plover or sandpiper maybe? At first I thought it was a swallow of some sort...then when I saw the photo I thought maybe a killdeer, but I don't think so. Sorry these are poor photos too...it flashed by me so quickly, I just snapped away as a spur of the moment thing! Would someone please confirm that this is a female redwing blackbird? This one was from a different day in the woods. There were lots of orioles, bluebirds, red-bellied woodpeckers, and a myriad of other birds in this area. I was wondering if it could be a female oriole...the tail doesn't seem long enough. Again, sorry for the quality, it was a long way away from me. I did unspeakable things to this photo to get it to even show any markings but the color is just not there. Thanks so much for any help! Ginni (the bird challenged)
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jannd
16 years ago
I agree, it's pretty hard to tell. Like Chris says, size would help ID it. I can see it being either a juvenile sharp-shinned, which I agree is likely it, but it could also be a goshawk with that white eyebrow. Brihop, I'd suggest that you Google images for both of these birds and see if you come across any images that match what you saw. Good luck.
alan_la
16 years ago
Sharp-shinned was my first thought, but not a Juvie, I wanted to see what Eastern Birders thought.
brihop2000
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, he was perched on a patio chair, and I would say 12" would be a good estimate for his length. I've looked at some photos on the web, but it is hard to tell. Much of his breast was molting. I don't know if that means he is a juvenile or if that's just a seasonal change.
oldned
16 years ago
If your 12-inch length estimate is accurate, then Sharp-shinned is much more likely. A Goshawk is longer than and nearly as heavy as a Red-tailed Hawk. The (apparent) white supercilium fooled me.
lisa11310
16 years ago
This Eastern Bluebirder thinks Sharpie too AND not one I would want to have around my property. :( Beautiful bird, I just don't want them here.

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