Nancy,



I photographed a sharp shinned hawk being banded at the National Raptor
Laboratory in Marin County, CA, in October 2007. The link is attached.
What stands out in this photo is the equal length of the tail feathers,
which the biologist seen holding the bird did point out to be a
characteristic of the Sharpie. That does not appear to be the case in the
bird you have photographed, which would indicate the Cooper's identification
is correct.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/21019806 at N05/2314498819/



Marvin S. Hoekstra

Sammamish, WA

marvin dot hoekstra at verizon dot net









From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Michael
Marsh
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 7:35 PM
To: Tweeters Posts
Cc: nancy at nancywagnerphotography.com
Subject: [Tweeters] Coop vs. Sharpie



Nancy:

Very nice photo, thanks for sharing.

Not sure why we need a Swedish expert when raptor expert Bud Anderson
lives in the Seattle area??? Based on info Bud posted to Tweeters a few
years ago regarding separating these two spp., as well as other research
I've done, it is most likely an immature Coop.

* It does not have a clearly defined vertical forehead--the top of the
head just slopes down to the upper mandible.
* the block-headed look as well as the foreward placement of the eyes
suggests Coop;
* the brown streaking on the breast is very thin and narrow.
* if it is is true, as one person suggested, that the bird looks
slender, that makes it a Coop, not a Sharpie;
* tail notched, rounded, whatever on either a bird in flight OR
perched is inconsistent and no longer considered useful;
* unless you have an especially small male Sharpie, size also is not
useful.

Hopefully Bud, who has handled many dozens of both spp., will chime in.



Good birding, Mike



--
Michael Marsh
Portland, OR