Hawk Identification help please

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Pauli Driver-Smith

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Sep 11, 2019, 9:08:48 PM9/11/19
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I spied this enjoying an Eurasian Collard Dove on my deck, and then later photographed it up at the Highlandlake Pioneer Cemetery. Can anyone tell me what this is? It is pretty much a soft grey.

 

Thanks,

Pauli Smith

Mead, Weld County

69819118_3638815312811314_6470315536470245376_n.jpg

Vaughn Cottman

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Sep 11, 2019, 9:53:52 PM9/11/19
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It looks larger than a cooper's hawk; my guess would be a juvenile goshawk. Lucky You!

Joe Roller

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Sep 11, 2019, 10:53:59 PM9/11/19
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This young raptor has several field marks of a Mississippi Kite.
Joe Roller, Denver

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Diana Beatty

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Sep 11, 2019, 10:59:20 PM9/11/19
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Mississippi Kites to my knowledge are unlikely to take a dove as prey; they're not drastically larger than one to begin with, and they commonly take insects that they catch in flight as prey - grasshoppers, odonata, cicadas, etc.  They do also eat small birds and lizards occasionally and have been occasionally observed to take pieces of rabbit carrion, etc.   But I have my doubts they could handle a Eurasian Collared Dove.  Here is a short clip of some young Mississippi Kites I took a week or two ago for comparison - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfVRr7vt7LI

Diana Beatty
El Paso County

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Deborah Carstensen

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Sep 11, 2019, 11:13:32 PM9/11/19
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I would vote for the juvenile goshawk! Deb Carstensen, Arapahoe county 

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David Tønnessen

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Sep 11, 2019, 11:38:51 PM9/11/19
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This is no Mississippi Kite, and the more slender-chested build and clean white throat point away from a young Northern Goshawk, which would be quite the find for Weld County this time of year anyway. This is a Cooper's Hawk.


David Tonnessen
Colorado Springs, CO



John Vanderpoel

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Sep 12, 2019, 6:46:21 AM9/12/19
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I took the liberty of sending the photo to Brian Wheeler and he agrees with David.  Here is what Brian said:

 

A juvenile Cooper's Hawk.  An accipiter by very long tail. A Cooper's Hawk because it has the longest tail of the three species. 

This bird shows a very long distance from the primary tips to the tail tip is quite an amount.

 

This bird shows a pale supercilium, which is more associated with juvenile Northern Goshawk; however, many juvenile Cooper's Hawks also show this mark.

 

Markings on wing align with Cooper's Hawk. Pale edging on median and greater coverts but lack of pale bar on greater coverts rules out most Northern Goshawks. 

 

 

Best,

 

Brian 

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Ira Sanders

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Sep 12, 2019, 7:56:47 AM9/12/19
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Thank you Brian!  And to John for being the brightest bulb by sending this to Brian.
Ira Sanders
Golden

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Ira Sanders
Golden, CO
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Scott

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Sep 12, 2019, 9:46:24 AM9/12/19
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The bird is a Cooper's Hawk.

Note, the short wings and long tail.

Scott Rashid

Estes Park

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Pauli Driver-Smith

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Sep 12, 2019, 8:23:52 PM9/12/19
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Thanks everyone for what turned out to be a difficult identification. It was fun to see all the responses, and I learned a lot from them all. I wish I had been able to get a better photo, but if wishes were horses. . . 😊

 

Thanks again!

Pauli

G B

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Sep 13, 2019, 7:05:22 AM9/13/19
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After spending time using software for enhancements and conducting a search online, I believe it is a juvenile goshawk. I was able to match the photo very closely to several samples on audubon.org and allaboutbirds.org.

Of particular interest in this photo are the large white eye brow bar, the long tail with four dark bars and white tip and the light colored shoulder.


On Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 7:08:48 PM UTC-6, Pauli wrote:

G B

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Sep 13, 2019, 1:05:37 PM9/13/19
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Sorry about leaving off my ID (G B).

Gary Bowen (Thornton)
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