I reported yesterday that I had photographed a banded sharp shinned hawk by Willow Creek?below the fish hatchery in Edmonds.? Looking at my photos, I?wonder if it might be a Cooper's hawk instead.?? The two have very similar appearances.?? I know the text book answer is, "the Cooper's hawk is larger",? but that does not do much good without seeing the two side by side for comparison.??? Are there any other identifying characteristics to tell the two apart?

On a side note, who would band a hawk and why?? Looking at my photos,?I could not see any identifying marks on the band.
Bill Anderson; Edmonds, WA. ?