Nurit and I went for a walk in Chapman Woods, a high-end residential area about a mile from here, last week and saw this hawk.
Front view
rear view
Our questions:
What kind of hawk is it?
Could it carry off a cat?
Discover more from Simon Burrow
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Red-shouldered Hawk.
Is it a cat we like?
Marta
Is there a cat we like?
Red Shouldered sounds good.
Simon
Okay so the plot thickens. Marta’s Mom a “super-duper-deluxe birder” confirmed Red Shouldered.
Michael F. also confirmed Red Shouldered but added the word Buteo
Darrell C. a noted local bird watcher thinks it is a Coopers.
Interesting.
Details from Michael F:
Cooper’s are in the “bird hawk” family(Accipiter)- Their prey, is primarily smaller but mainly other birds. They are slimmer and arguably more agile than the larger raptors. This bird appears to be, as you say, a larger more robust bird- in the Buteo family(RSH, Broadwinged Hawk; Red Tailed Hawk etc.) Cooper’s have a darker cap, red eyes and smaller frame.
And a change from Darrell C:
“The others are right. I want to change my vote.”
So the Red Tails have it and Marta is the winner for the first correct entry.