quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Snip... and what I can do to make my yard more attractive to this Hawk.

Buy chickens.

The first picture looks like a raptor in camoflage.

Seriously though, around here, Hawks are like house cats in their various colorings and I don't know how people can be so sure in their identification. I've got a small book on Raptors of Western North America and according to it and your pics it looks like either a Coopers or Red Shouldered Hawk.

I don't think it is an osprey. They have very long wings relative to their size and are quite white, and not so buff. Plus they feed on fish, and need a body of water. Is there water nearby?

Other than "hawk" I can't tell from those photos.

Raptors for some reason inspire my heart. Magnificent creatures all of them. We have a nesting couple that seem to return each year in our back yard, not sure how that works, I guess it's the same pair. My wife used to worry about a small terrier we had for about 14 years, I'm not sure that dog being so feisty way out of her weight class wouldn't have given any raptor a run for its money.

Once when dove hunting, a buddy had a VERY fast german shorthair, which we all personally observed, run up to a raptor that grabbed one of our downed birds right out of its talons after the bird had left the ground. That dog ran and jumped up pretty high and just ripped that bird out of the raptors grip, and brought it back to us. We thought that was pretty funny, and amazing too. That bird dog was special for sure.

Good stories…



We have Coopers hawks around here, but they are smaller. However the coloring looks identical. I know I’m a little late - But I concur… Cooper’s Hawk

There is a park next to my house that has Bald Eagles, hawks and Osprey's. Watching raptors soar through the trees is amazing.
Any day I see a raptor is a good day. On rare occasions one will perch in a tree in my backyard. That is a very good day indeed.

Sharp-shinned and Cooper's have similar markings. The size is the differentiator. We have both in my NH back yard!

Okay, so I am learning a lot since I decided to dive head first into this.

It appears the red shoulder hawk is not in my region. So that one is out.

Ospreys appear too white to be this bird. Plus, the water here is pretty lame, and doubtful one could survive off the fish here.

As far as sharp shin or coopers, it’s too big to be a sharp shin.

I have a similar hawk family nearby. I’ve settled with either the ‘sharp-shinned’ or ‘coopers’ hawk, both seem to be in this area. Mine has the longer tail, cruises between tress, can take a bird on the fly.

I’m kinda neutral with them, don’t want to hear they grabbed a bluebird. We’ve had about zero rabbits the last few years, turkeys have a tough time raising little ones too. Yes, the fox family Is involved too.

This Winter we took 3 coyotes & 2 fox from just behind the house. I like to put a roadkill deer out back in the depths of the cold season.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Go to the app store. Download the “Merlin” app.

This is a great suggestion. The Merlin Bird ID app will also identify birds by sound. It is really useful for anyone that likes birds.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Ospreys appear too white to be this bird. Plus, the water here is pretty lame, and doubtful one could survive off the fish here.

The stripes or bands on the underside of the wings of the bird in your pictures eliminate it as an Osprey. I see Ospreys everyday and they don’t look like that.

Rounded tail feathers is another tell for the Cooper's

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Snip... and what I can do to make my yard more attractive to this Hawk.

Buy chickens.

And install a koi pond.

I agree; Cooper's Hawk. We live in Rim Country, and had one in the yard getting a drink the other afternoon.