Ted,

That is definately a sharpshin hawk.? Coopers hawks dont have that
bug-eyed look, nor do they have such razor thin shin bones (thus the
name "sharp shin").? Coopers hawks also tend to have more ventral
barring in their juvinile year, although that certainly isnt anything
to base a firm ID on.

The squared off tail is a great "in flight" identifier, but there
are others you can use when they are up close.

Geoff Hirschi
Master falconer
Snohomish, Wa

-------------------------

Ted,
?
It's either a juv. Sharpie or a Juv. Coopers.? I'm gonna lean toward
Cooper's, but just barely.? Since an average Cooper's is around 16
inches and this one doesn't fit that according to your comparison to a
MoDo.? But the breast strips strike me as thin and clean, and the eye
does seem a little forward on the head.? It's a shame we can't see the
end of it's tail.? A squared off end would clinch it for a Sharpie and
a more rounded end would point to a Coopers.? Either way, nice yard
bird!
?
-Rolan

Rolan Nelson
Fircrest, WA
rnbuffle at yahoo.com