It's not unusual to see one of these raptors around my yard--and near my bird feeders--especially when the weather is cold.
(Please click on individual photos...most of them will enlarge to show details)
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| 2009 |
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| 2009 |
I mean, every body (and bird!) needs to eat.
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| 2009 |
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| 2009 |
Fortunately I've never seen a hawk actually capture a bird although there have been a few close calls.
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| 2009 |
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| 2009 |
I've tried to ID these birds in the past but may have been incorrect at times. There are markers...but to me, they all seem so similar.
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| 2010 |
Size is not a fool-proof way to tell the difference.
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| 2010 |
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| 2010 |
It is said that the Sharp-shinned hawk is more jay or dove sized, where-as the Cooper's hawk is crow sized or larger.
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| June 2010 (Taken through family room window and then through 2 screens on the porch) |
I've never seen one as small as a dove or jay, so I usually ID them as Cooper's hawks...but that's not to say I've been correct.
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| January 2011 |
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| January 2011 |
If you want to rack your brain and give it a shot, visit the Project Feederwatch Accipiter photo gallery and them come back and tell me what you think.
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| February 2011 |
Many of these photos have previously been published on my blog, but I'm putting them all here in one post to get your opinion and help me ID them.
(This post was also published at the Virginia Gardener Magazine online, 2/4/11).
Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/
Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.
Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.
