Hi Jane! It's been my pleasure (really!) since I enjoy testing my raptor ID skills when I am unable to get outside and do it for real (either due to schedule limitations or birds not cooperating). Raptor ID is something I've been working on for a year or two now; only recently did I become any good at it. Hawks used to look all the same to me. I claimed to love them but I knew so little about them. I had to learn to notice the fine details and become adept at pointing them out quickly. Sometimes a glimpse is all you get. I believe those two guides you purchased will serve you (or anyone) well. The general Eastern guide is a great visual tool but Crossley doesn't have the space on each page to really break down the field marks that make each species unique. His raptor guide will probably be better for that, but I had to purchase Hawks in Flight to REALLY get into the details of real-time ID. Perched birds are easy to master; soaring hawks requires a lot of practice. I have also used online articles (American Birding Association/ Jerry Liguori) to learn new things, especially concerning the amazing diversity of Red-tailed Hawks. I have also learned a lot from experienced birders. I still have a ton to learn so I lurk forums such as these. Gives me an excuse to read a little more about IDing raptors. I have another tip that has helped me TREMENDOUSLY when IDing raptors (birds in general). Always weed out the unlikely/impossible species first. Check: - Location/range (you'll not likely find a Swainson's Hawk in New England unless during spring/fall migration) - Season (Broad-winged Hawks are in s. America during the winter) - Behavior (Northern Goshawks are notoriously elusive forest hawks and are the least likely Accipiter at a bird feeder). Rule out what it ISN'T and you'll likely have a much narrower list of what it could be. After that it comes down to field marks, shape, flying style, etc. If you are lucky enough to hear the hawk's call, then you are well on your way. Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds has recordings of bird sounds and it's a great reference. I'm sure I left a million things out but that's mostly what I wanted to say. This post was edited by TMFF on Sun, Mar 10, 13 at 17:15

Its mostly likely a Juvenile Cooper's Hawk, they mainly eat birds. The juveniles in particular seem to be attracted to the commotion of a feeder. While full grown ducks are not usually targeted, they are at risk. Coopers are known to kill other big birds like chickens and pheasants. There was a recent special on Crows on PBS with researchers tagging crows with radio transmitters. Some of the transmitters ended up at the back in a Coopers nest. In the midwest, their favorite food is doves, but will eat anybird that visits your feeders. A couple of weeks ago, I saw one chase a finch and catch it after several figure eights through the trees. It was very impressive to see such a big bird chase a little bird and catch it.

It was a Coopers Hawk. I have a CD with bird sounds of PA and I was not sure it was going to help, but listened away as I cleaned my house, and there it was! The sound was unmistakable! I looked it up in the books, and even though I was not able to see the markings that day, I say the silouette for like 5 minutes, and it matched the one in the book perfectly! I am really going to get into ID's by sound, sometimes it takes more than just appearance, it is sound, environment, behavior, then it all comes together. :o)

I should have known-I'd never seen one up close or from that angle. It was really big. Thanks.