The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It's free, fun, and easy-and it helps the birds."

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Hung Up on Hawks

 

Cooper's and Sharp-shinned hawks pose a real ID challenge, even for longtime birders. Throughout the year, there is great variation in plumage and in size for these two species. They look so much alike that no single field mark stands out to help bird watchers easily tell one from the other.

Size is the defining factor, but that's sometimes hard to judge with a single bird. The rule of thumb is that a Cooper's Hawk is about the size of an American Crow and the Sharp-shinned Hawk is more the size of a jay. You can compare the relative sizes of those species in the graphic below to get an idea of the difference between the two hawks.

 Size_Compare_KevinMcGowan.jpg
L-R: Blue Jay, Steller's Jay, American Crow. Graphic by Kevin McGowan 

 

Below are a few ID guidelines that may help--at least some of the time! Clicking on the bird name will also take you to more information in our Online Bird Guide.

 

Cooper's Hawk - Adult
(Accipiter cooperii) 

  

Sharp-shinned Hawk - Adult
(Accipiter striatus)
 

CoopersHawk_AdultFront_ary-Botello_AZ11.jpg

    

SSHawk_AdultFront_Robin-Solomon_MN11.jpg

Photo by Gary Botello

Keys to ID:

  • Crow-sized, on average 14-20 inches long; female larger than the male
  • Thick body and broad chest-- lower center of gravity than Sharp-shinned
  • Thicker legs than Sharp-shinned
  • Long, rounded tail with a broad white band. The middle tail feathers are usually the longest.
  • Dark cap; feathers on back of head often raised, giving it a crested look never seen on the Sharp-shinned.
  • Slow wing beats that could easily be counted; the head projects far beyond the wings
  

                     Photo by Robin Solomon

                             Keys to ID: 

  • Blue Jay-sized, on average 10-14 inches long; female is larger; can be similar to small Cooper's.
  • Narrow hips and broad chest; center of gravity higher than Cooper's
  • Thinner, pencil-like legs than Cooper's.
  • Square, long tail; outer tail feathers usually the longest 
  • Hooded appearance from dark feathers on crown and neck
  • Quick, erratic wingbeats; small head barely extends past the wings 

 

 CoopersHawk_AdultHead_VirginiaKadow.jpg    SharpShinned_AdultHead_MarieLehmann_FL11.jpg
 

The Cooper's "cap."
Photo by Virginia Kadow 

 

    

The sharpie's gray "hood."
Photo by Marie Lehmann

 
 CoopersTails_DavidLangTop_GeraldLevitzBottom_2011.jpg    SharpieTails_RobinSolomonTop_FrankMoltzBottom_2011.jpg

Rounded Cooper's Hawk tails
Top photo by David Lang,
bottom photo by Gerald Levitz

 

  

More squared-off sharpie tails
Top photo by Robin Solomon,
bottom photo by Frank Moltz 

 


Cooper's Hawk - Juvenile 

  


Sharp-shinned Hawk - Juvenile 
 

CooperJV_DianeGatley_2011.jpg

    SharpieJV_DianeMarieGoldschmidt_2011.jpg

Photo by Diane Gatley

                             Keys to ID: 

  • Finer streaks mostly on upper breast; lower belly mostly white; brown back
  • Yellow eyes (adults have red eyes); lacks stripe above the eye
  • Reddish cast on side of head and nape
  

Photo by Diane Marie Goldschmidt

Keys to ID:

  • Heavy, bold (reddish) streaks on underparts, especially on lower breast and belly; brown back
  • Yellow eyes (adults have red eyes).
  • Pale stripe above the eye


 
 



 






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