BN, that was really great description/comparison between the two. Thanks much for your input. Think you, Jan, and beegood are right on about it being a song sparrow! -mxyplx, maybe a new prescription is in order??? ;-) This guy isn't a Junco, but don't you just love those little guys? Never used to have them (or at least see them) around this particular area until a few years ago. Now they are all over the place and I am very glad of it! Think the ones around here may be the Oregon Junco... CMK

Boy, that was fast. Thank you very much, Jud. For the life of me I could not find them in Sibley - now I have thanks to you.

I agree with BN. It is an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk. Although my reasoning slightly differs: the "hooded" appearance of this bird is obvious from this angle (how the dark head continues over the nape of the neck). This is a terrific way to tell the similar Cooper's and Sharp-shinned apart (but only as adults!). A Cooper's has a "capped" look (dark crown of the head and a lighter gray nape of the neck). The shape is also indicative of a Sharp-shinned (squat appearance with a small head and fat chest, lack of a neck, large eyes and small bill). The auriculars (cheeks) actually aren't a reliable way to tell Sharp-shinned from Cooper's, but it is a semi-useful way to tell male from female in both Sharp-shinned and Cooper's. I don't like to use it unless it is really obvious. Kind of iffy. In summary, this is a Sharp-shinned Hawk. It is hunting birds.

Konrad, thanks for the ID on the first Bird. It sure sure does look like him. Carolb, here is another pic, cropped of the secord. I think it may be a mocking bird, too. It does have the long tail. Thanks.