We have a brush pile just outside the fence to provide cover for the small birds coming to our feeders. Today a red tailed hawk came in to examine it for a snack. Hawk on brushpile ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) He didn't get anything, and after re-arranging the brush pile for a bit he just sat and grumped (giving us a good profile view). Red tailed hawk in profile ( photo / image / picture from marlingardener's Garden ) I do admire hawks, since they are so well designed to do what they do. Look at that beak--he has that overbite for a purpose!
I'm thinking that's a juvenile Cooper's Hawk. They and the Sharp Shinned Hawk tend to feed on birds. The longish striped tail and the white spots on the wing coverts are the cue's for me.
Could easily be a juvenile Cooper's. We have them around here. I was going with Red-tailed because they are so abundant. Thanks for the ID, FBG!
Strange you should take pictures of your hawk Jane as I did the same today. Our Sparrowhawk managed to take a Goldfinch and this picture shows what you were saying about the beaks of these birds and just how they use them.
I love to see Hawks! . There are usually plenty of mice in the fields, but there is just too much snow so the Hawks start to watch my feeders and come closer to the house. I haven't seen any YET, but I bet it's not too long now.
Nice photos of lovely birds. I like hawks, but we don't see them often. The small birds are probably grateful we don't.
