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is this a Sharpie still here attacking my birds? Have never seen one here after spring migration

pic 2,
also have 2 more worse than these. They were taken from inside my kitchen window over looking the new duck cage in process of being built

Tough call between Sharp-shinned and Cooper's, can you get any sharper pics?

Resin

thanks Resin. These 2 are the best of the 4 I took. Were take from inside the house about 2' from the glass and bird is about 30' away. Will try again when/if it comes back

got this today. This is the best one. Sure wish it would leave my yard.

really bad shot. Couldn't get it to focus on the bird but may be of some use for size

This message was edited Jun 16, 2009 10:10 PM

I'd say Cooper's - fairly heavy, with a stout bill.

Resin

Thanks Resin he does look bigger than a 11" Sharpie

It could be either. The Coopers tail is usually more rounded and the Sharpshin more straight. We get lots of them in our yard and frankly I'm never totally sure which is which. I get a thrill every time I see one though. In fact it was either last Fall or this Spring and one perched on the deck rail just outside my kitchen window. I'll find it and post it so you can get a good look. Either way, even though it's upsetting for them to take songbirds they are just surviving like the others. The difference is that they're coming for the birds that are coming for the seed. And honestly they usually only cull out the weak or sick (MOST of the time...).

I uploaded the two good photos I have of this hawk. I hope you'll be checking back here so you can look at both of them. Unfortunately I could only get the tail in one shot since my view was very confined. But I just wanted you to get a good look at a Sharpshin (as far as I can tell). Here's the link to my Blog:

http://davesgarden.com/tools/blog/index.php?tabid=9983

This message was edited Jun 25, 2009 3:30 AM