We consulted our Audubon, Peterson, and Sibley guides, and the Merlin Bird app. Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks are easily confused because they look exactly alike and have similar habits Many resort to writing “Cooper’s/Sharp-shinned Hawk” down in their field notebooks after encountering either species. It’s common for birders, and even expert birders to be shaking their heads about the exact species after a sighting. Identifying Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawksīoth accipiters are easily confused because they look exactly alike and have similar habits. It was a thrill seeing two beautiful accipiters in one day in our backyard. We were confident the second hawk was a Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii). The hawk remained on top of the feeders and scouted its surroundings before flying off without finding a meal. The bird had a block-shaped head, was larger in body size with glowing yellow eyes. This hawk was dark grey in coloring, but the coloration didn’t continue down it nape. Hawk lands on bird feeder looking for songbirds We knew another predator was close by and waited silently by the window, so we didn’t scare the Downy and cause it to fly off into the hawk’s line of fire.Īfter a few minutes of using the feeder as it camouflage, the Downy finally flew away safely.īut the hawk landed in its place on top of the feeder. Male Downy Woodpecker remains still as the hawk scouts for prey Just an hour later while we were photographing a male Downy Woodpecker on our feeder, all our birds flew off in a frenzy.īut the brave Downy was glued to the feeder and would not move. and CanadaĪfter reviewing our photos, the hawk’s characteristics led us to believe the bird we saw was a Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus). Sharp-shinned Hawks are small hawks, with males being the smallest hawks in the U.S. The bird had magnificent orange eyes, but had a small rounded head and body and looked more compact in size than a Cooper’s Hawk. The hawk was dark grey in coloring that continued down the back of its neck (nape). Sharp-shinned Hawk was on the prowl for its next meal We ran outside with our cameras and took a few photos of what we thought was a beautiful Cooper’s Hawk perched up high in a tree scouting for the Tufted Titmouse that narrowly evaded the hawk’s quest to become its next meal. Once we heard Big Blue’s warning call and saw all our birds retreat simultaneously from our feeders, we knew a predator stopped by for a visit. We always have such a flurry of activity, and when we catch a glimpse of empty feeders and no birds and squirrels in sight, then we know a hawk is nearby. Blue Jays sound the alarm to warn other birds about the appearance of a predator The draw for the hawks was our bird feeders for backyard songbirds and woodpeckers.īig Blue, our resident backyard Blue Jay does a great job warning our flock that a predator is near. The most common accipiters near us include Sharp-shinned Hawks (Accipiter striatus) and Cooper’s Hawks (Accipiter cooperii). (Accipiters are medium-sized forest-inhabiting hawks adapted for fast flight in wooded areas). we were excited to have visits from two stunning accipiters over a two-hour period. This weekend while working at the intoBirds’ office in Rosendale, N.Y. Many of these hawks live in the state’s coastal areas, but some are also inland.If the colder weather thwarts you from getting out and seeing birds, then look no further than your backyard or bird patch to see some fantastic bird species, including birds of prey like Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks. In addition to having so much variety in its natural environment, California also has a rich history and wildlife.Ĭalifornia is a diverse state, home to many different species of birds. All species make California an attractive place for birds, and these are some of the California hawks’ identification you should know. Many different kinds of birds live here, from Canadian geese to black-billed magpies to American dippers. Hawks can live in forests, grasslands, and desert areas, like Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park. California and Its Variety of HawksĬalifornia is a good place for hawks because there are many different types of habitats. It’s often a dangerous situation since predators, such as cats, may start attacking these small animals once they’re spotted. It will sometimes catch small rodents by chasing them down with its talons until the animal runs into a bush, where it hides from view until its prey runs out from under cover again. They mostly eat small mammals but also eat birds if they are available (like crows).
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