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Mousetoescamper

(5,474 posts)
Sun Sep 11, 2022, 02:53 PM Sep 2022

Re: Need some help identifying a bird - Mystery likely solved

Last edited Mon Sep 12, 2022, 08:50 AM - Edit history (2)

Thanks to Croney's post (17) I now think it's most likely an adult light morph broad-winged hawk.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-winged_Hawk/photo-gallery/71534291

And thanks to everyone who replied!

I was searching my photo archives for potential photo contest entries and found these neglected shots. I'd appreciate any help in identifying this bird. I took the photos in Canaan Valley, WV in September of 2014. The bird was smaller than a red-tailed hawk and very fast.



18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Re: Need some help identifying a bird - Mystery likely solved (Original Post) Mousetoescamper Sep 2022 OP
Word is the bird. Sneederbunk Sep 2022 #1
I am going to keep an eye on this MuseRider Sep 2022 #2
No expert, but a good guess multigraincracker Sep 2022 #3
Sparrow hawk? Kestrel? LakeArenal Sep 2022 #4
Merlin would be my guess. Walleye Sep 2022 #5
That was my guess as well. Mousetoescamper Sep 2022 #10
Cooper's hawk, maybe. tblue37 Sep 2022 #6
I'm going with Cooper's Hawk. Thanks! Mousetoescamper Sep 2022 #16
Maybe Timewas Sep 2022 #7
Female kestrel Sanity Claws Sep 2022 #8
My guess, Coopers Hawk. Smaller than a red tail, fast and usually around my bird feeder. dem4decades Sep 2022 #9
You and tblue37 guessed Cooper's and that looks like it could be the bird, but if you enlarge Mousetoescamper Sep 2022 #11
I couldn't really see much in that shot. dem4decades Sep 2022 #12
Brightened the shot. Mousetoescamper Sep 2022 #13
I'm going with Cooper's Hawk. Thanks! Mousetoescamper Sep 2022 #15
I'm going with dem4decades and tblue37's guesses of Cooper's Hawk. Thanks, everyone, for the help! Mousetoescamper Sep 2022 #14
The birder in my family says it is a broad-winged hawk. Croney Sep 2022 #17
Thanks, Croney! I think your birder has correctly identified my mystery bird. Mousetoescamper Sep 2022 #18

MuseRider

(34,401 posts)
2. I am going to keep an eye on this
Sun Sep 11, 2022, 02:59 PM
Sep 2022

as I have tons of birds on my farm and the only one's I have a real problem with ID are the hawks. They are hard. Beautiful bird.

Mousetoescamper

(5,474 posts)
10. That was my guess as well.
Sun Sep 11, 2022, 03:30 PM
Sep 2022

Smaller than a red-tailed hawk, larger than a kestrel and lightning fast. Consulted my field guides and online and it’s still a mystery.

dem4decades

(11,975 posts)
9. My guess, Coopers Hawk. Smaller than a red tail, fast and usually around my bird feeder.
Sun Sep 11, 2022, 03:20 PM
Sep 2022

The crows take exception to them and bother the hell out of them.

And the blue jays do the same to the crows.

Mousetoescamper

(5,474 posts)
11. You and tblue37 guessed Cooper's and that looks like it could be the bird, but if you enlarge
Sun Sep 11, 2022, 03:48 PM
Sep 2022

the in-flight pic the underwing doesn't look like a Cooper's.

Mousetoescamper

(5,474 posts)
14. I'm going with dem4decades and tblue37's guesses of Cooper's Hawk. Thanks, everyone, for the help!
Sun Sep 11, 2022, 04:38 PM
Sep 2022

Mousetoescamper

(5,474 posts)
18. Thanks, Croney! I think your birder has correctly identified my mystery bird.
Mon Sep 12, 2022, 08:39 AM
Sep 2022

The bird is most likely an adult light morph broad-winged hawk.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-winged_Hawk/photo-gallery/71534291

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