One of the toughest raptor distinctions for me is Cooper’s versus Sharp-shinned Hawk (Sharpie). A solid ID depends on a number of things, including a good view of the tail colors and shape, the streaking on the plumage, and the bird’s relative size. All of those features can also vary by age and sex.
I shot this image of a Sharpie or Cooper’s at Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery last week (San Rafael, California), and ran the photo by my resident expert, Bird Master. She thought it was a Sharpie, but couldn’t say with certainty in the absence of a more detailed photo. So, for now, I’m saying Sharp-shinned Hawk but I’m open to an ID of Cooper’s if you believe I’ve made that designation in error.
Both Cooper’s Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks are bird hunters. I’ve witnessed a Cooper’s shoot through a maze of branches in pursuit of its prey — in that particular case, missing her targeted finch. Those who keep bird feeders will, at some point, probably find a Cooper’s or a Sharpie eyeing the visiting birds. If you have bird feeders, it’s a good idea to provide cover for the feeding birds — thick trees or shrubs where birds can ditch if they perceive danger, like that of a nearby hawk.
This particular hawk was perched on a tombstone in a torrent of rain, fluffing and preening with little concern for my lens.
Sharpie or Cooper's - ©ingridtaylar
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There are insects that eat other insects, mammals that eat other mammals, so it is not abnormal that there are birds that eat other birds … but I find it shocking!
Hello, Müge, thank you for the comment — from the beautiful enclave of Istanbul. I enjoyed perusing your photographs. I hadn’t experienced firsthand the various habits of Cooper’s Hawks or Sharp-shinned Hawks until we moved to an area that provided both habitat for the hawks and lots of gardens for the songbirds. Here in San Francisco, we also have Peregrine Falcons whose primary diet is birds (pigeons, doves, some waterfowl). Do you have nesting pairs of Peregrines in Istanbul? We have several such programs in Northern California, encouraging the reproduction of this once-endangered bird. I wrote about the Peregrines last year — the ones monitored by “nest cam” on a highrise in the city. Unfortunately, the odds against survival can be high for these raptors, and 2009 was a tough year for the Peregrine parents.