News, Videos & Other Webcams > Bird ID Help

ID Help: Cooper's Hawk

<< < (2/8) > >>

The Peregrine Chick:

--- Quote from: Doreen on April 24, 2013, 12:15 ---Tracy this bird just hit my window, and I sure hope it will be ok.
Could you tell me what kind of bird it is?



--- End quote ---

Cooper is right, without a size reference it is difficult to quickly tell Cooper's Hawks (no relation  ;)) from Sharp-shinned Hawks.  Looking at the width of the white terminal band on the tail and the size of the feet, I would guess that it is a Cooper's Hawk even though the head looks a bit small.  Could be the head looks small because the bird is crouching a bit and looks like it has puffed up its feathers some.  Or it could be a pudgy Sharp-shinned  ;D

Bird looks alert, both eyes are open, it's not listing to one side and its feet and wings look symmetrical.  Also I can't see any blood so I would think the bird's got a good chance.  My advice is to leave it totally alone, don't go and check on it.  If you have pets, don't let them out.  

If you want to check again about 6pm that is fine, by that point it should have taken off or it will be settling down for the night.  If you do go check, don't go close, just peak (with binocs if you have them) and leave the bird alone. Depending on how hard a hit, the bird may need a couple of hours of quiet time to reboot.

If the bird is lying down or looks very much NOT like your photo, call MWRO/wildlife haven at (204) 878-3740 get their advice.  It is better just to leave the bird alone so getting expert advice on whether to approach a potentially injured animal should always be the first course of action.  If the bird is injured likely it will end up at MWRO so always nice to get their help right from the start.

Hope this helps.
TPC

irenekl:
I say Merlin.  How's it doing?

Cooper:
Or maybe it's a merlin!  ;D

Cooper:
Well, that looks very much like the birds I've been watching in my back yard! If on the smallish size compared to other hawks, this may be a sharp shinned hawk. If a bit bigger then it may be a Cooper's hawk. Have a look at its tail. If it is flat across that would suggest the sharp shinned, if rounded then more likely a Cooper's. There you have it - the sum total of my hawk identification powers. 

Doreen:
Tracy this bird just hit my window, and I sure hope it will be ok.
Could you tell me what kind of bird it is?

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page