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

Your friend has a Cardinal with missing feathers on its head. For some reason Cardinals & Blue Jays seem to have this problem often. Can be caused by mites. Usually does not hurt the bird, except for other birds making fun of it. Susan

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.

I agree with Red-winged Blackbird, and probably an immature male. That bar on the shoulder (coverts?) is not usually found on a female. Nice pictures! Claire