Cliff:

I've seen what I believed is a sharp-shinned hawk in the Ballard
neighborhood you've described.

In truth, I find it EXTREMELY difficult to tell different hawks apart,
especially when they go off into different phases.

Can anyone out there in Tweeter land give a quick guide on how to
differentiate a Cooper's from a Sharp Shin (without analyzing their
shins!)

Diane de Ryss
deryssmacon at halcyon.com


Cliff Drake wrote:
>
> Sunday morning while walking to the grocery store I was watching a group
> of starlings feeding on the parking strip across the street (On 26 Ave NW
> between 61st and 62nd in Ballard) when a fast blur swept in and grabbed a
> starling. The rest flew away complaining loudly while the Cooper's Hawk
> (just a guess, it was almost crow sized, but I'm sure it was an
> accipter.) stood with the screaming starling in its talons. Crows flew in
> from all sides, cawing and rattling, but not getting too close. The hawk
> stood there until the starling was quiet then flew into a nearby tree
> with its prize. I went on to the store to buy my dinner pre-killed in
> neat plastic-wrapped packages. In spite of the sudden death it was quite
> a sight.
> =================
> Cliff Drake
> Seattle, (Ballard) WA
> Birder at Juno.com