Coopers or Sharp Shin?

[Steve Large]

Hi Everyone,
Could I please get some help on the ID for this hawk. He hangs around with the Merlins at the local marsh. Doesn't like Blue Jays and Flickers much and plays a game of chase with them all the time.

Stats: Canon 50D, Canon 500mm F/4 with 1.4X, Taken at F/8, 1/800sec, ISO 400

Thanks.

Hope you have great light,

Steve

[Michael Zajac]

Steve, This is a very steep angle of capture. The bird id also facing away, those two things I believe are hurting the image. As presented I would tone down the perch and add some canvas top and bottom. Sharp details and a good exposure.

[Steve Large]

Steve, This is a very steep angle of capture. The bird id also facing away, those two things I believe are hurting the image. As presented I would tone down the perch and add some canvas top and bottom. Sharp details and a good exposure.

Hi Michael,
I realize that it is not a perfect image but was really interested to know what type of hawk it was.

Thanks,

Steve

[Doug Brown]

I vote for Sharp-Shinned.

[Roy Priest]

Sharpy for me too.

[Jim Buescher]

juvenile sharp-shinned....yellow eyes, thick streaks on breast.

[Arthur Morris]

Small head, thin legs, relatively squared off tail = sharpy.

[Steve Large]

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your comments and giving a proper ID. It must be an immature because I can get quite close. Here is a shot with a better head angle and just above eye level,

Take care,

Steve

[Arthur Morris]

Yes, I believe that the young ones are brown like this but that the adults are grey with orange on the breasts....