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Related: About this forumRe: 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.
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Re: Need some help identifying a bird - Mystery likely solved (Original Post)
Mousetoescamper
Sep 2022
OP
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'm going with dem4decades and tblue37's guesses of Cooper's Hawk. Thanks, everyone, for the help!
Mousetoescamper
Sep 2022
#14
Thanks, Croney! I think your birder has correctly identified my mystery bird.
Mousetoescamper
Sep 2022
#18
Sneederbunk
(15,360 posts)1. Word is the bird.
MuseRider
(34,401 posts)2. I am going to keep an eye on this
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.
multigraincracker
(34,270 posts)3. No expert, but a good guess
would be Red Tail Hawk.
LakeArenal
(29,852 posts)4. Sparrow hawk? Kestrel?
Walleye
(36,371 posts)5. Merlin would be my guess.
Mousetoescamper
(5,474 posts)10. That was my guess as well.
Smaller than a red-tailed hawk, larger than a kestrel and lightning fast. Consulted my field guides and online and its still a mystery.
tblue37
(66,041 posts)6. Cooper's hawk, maybe.
Mousetoescamper
(5,474 posts)16. I'm going with Cooper's Hawk. Thanks!
Timewas
(2,318 posts)7. Maybe
Might be a Goshawk
Sanity Claws
(22,061 posts)8. Female kestrel
dem4decades
(11,975 posts)9. My guess, Coopers Hawk. Smaller than a red tail, fast and usually around my bird feeder.
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
the in-flight pic the underwing doesn't look like a Cooper's.
dem4decades
(11,975 posts)12. I couldn't really see much in that shot.
Mousetoescamper
(5,474 posts)13. Brightened the shot.
Mousetoescamper
(5,474 posts)15. I'm going with Cooper's Hawk. Thanks!
Mousetoescamper
(5,474 posts)14. I'm going with dem4decades and tblue37's guesses of Cooper's Hawk. Thanks, everyone, for the help!
Croney
(4,926 posts)17. The birder in my family says it is a broad-winged hawk.
Mousetoescamper
(5,474 posts)18. Thanks, Croney! I think your birder has correctly identified my mystery bird.
The bird is most likely an adult light morph broad-winged hawk.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-winged_Hawk/photo-gallery/71534291