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Cooper's Hawk? Photos included

Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)

16 years ago

We saw this Hawk land on the fence across the street and then fly over to a weeping mulberry where a large number of sparrows were inside chirping away. It was fall. I'm not a birder, but do have a few books on the subject and this looks sort of like a Coopers Hawk. I will appreciate anyones' input......Thank you.....Maryl

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Comments (3)

orrin_h
16 years ago
It is indeed a Cooper's Hawk. Nice job with the ID-many birders have trouble with Cooper's vs Sharp-shinned Hawk.

-O-
Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you orrin for taking the time to confirm what it was. We live in the heart of suburbia and it always surprises me when "wildlife" adapts to our busy civilization. I was able to approach this Hawk to about 15 feet away before it finally flew off. It must be used to humans. Raptors are fascinating.
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I have a friend who is very good with Hawk ID's. In reference to the Cooper's Hawks, she always says, "The eye never lies." So, I am assuming that the Cooper's eye is helpful with the ID. I have one here and it hunts in my yard around my bird feeders. As I was looking out the window at the plethora of Grackles (YUCK), Starlings (Double-YUCK), and Red Winged Blackbirds the other day, that hawk came swooping in fast and low, and grabbed himself a RWB for breakfast. Wow! I wish that it could have been one of the other birds, but I am always in AWE of the raptors. They are such majestic creatures. Unlike most people who feed songbirds, I truly don't mind the hawks snatching a meal when they can. I just hope they won't choose my BB's!

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