Thursday, November 12, 2009

A Kitchenhawk in the plum tree...

...a Kitchenhawk is an accipiter that sits outside my kitchen window. His size is a bit iffy---he's about halfway between the size of an Obvious Sharp-shinned Hawk and an Obvious Cooper's Hawk. A week or so a go, an Obvious Sharp-shinned Hawk (juvenile) landed outside my kitchen window. He was small--really no larger than a Blue Jay. A few days later, the same munchkin landed on the deck, followed about an hour later by an Obvious Cooper's Hawk (juvenile). She was very large! But for the past couple of days, this in between-sized hawk has been visiting the plum tree and hockey net on the kitchen side of the house. My guess is he is a small, male juvenile Cooper's Hawk, but sometimes he seems small enough to be a Sharp-shinned. I do not know enough about hawks to make a decision. His tail feathers seem rounded and uneven, which points towards a Cooper's but.....any experts out there? I'll have more photos of him over the next couple of days.

When I showed this photo to Rick, he sad it was a shame the tree was in the way, but I sometimes like these peeping-through-the-woods shots. You'd never know this fellow was sitting about 10 feet outside my kitchen window. Although the fuzziness has that shooting-through-a-screen feel.

I would hate to be a tiny mouse or bird and be on the receiving end of that stare!!

...that beautiful orange-buff head makes me lean towards a small male Cooper's Hawk.

...another Peeping Tom shot! I love the intense focus that always shows up in a hawk's eye.

33 comments:

FAB said...

Whow Kelly, what fun to have this visitor so close to the window.
I can't help with the ID but I'm sure one of your friends will come up trumps. FAB

P.S. Will look thro' the Robin pics and send in the next few days.

Anonymous said...

Whatever he is Kelly, he has some beautiful markings.

Warren Baker said...

Kelly, I don't know anything about US hawks. But if they are like ours, the male and female of each species differ in size substantially, the female always being bigger. Nice pics by the way!

Kelly said...

Frank...thanks! It's so cool to see him out there. I've never seen him catch anything, though.

Roy...I like the markings too. They change drastically as they become adults.

Warren...ours are the same, that's why I'm leaning towards a small male Cooper, but the orangish head makes me lean towards a Cooper too). Thank you!

Roy said...

If the tail is rounded, it's definitely a Cooper's. Sharp-shinned's have square-cut tails. But sometimes it's hard to tell in juveniles. I'd hazard a guess that this is a Cooper's.

Kelly said...

Roy....that's what I think too. I have more photos to post over the next day or so. He was so close that most don't have the tail, but I do have a few shots with tail feathers.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Kel, I have no idea--but you captured a beauty near your window. He must like you since he obviously is flirting with you.

Hope you find out what he is!!!!! Too bad he doesn't have a nametag hooked to him... ha

Hugs,
Betsy

Busy Bee Suz said...

I have no clue what he is aside from beautiful. I see many hawks around us and never know what kind they are...they should really wear name tags. :)

Heather said...

Kelly, I'm horrible with Sharpies and Coopers, so I really have no idea here. That piercing stare is something else, though!

Sue said...

I like the Peeping Tom shots too, I think it adds a lot of interest.
Sorry, I don't know my hawks either. But oh, what piercing eyes!

Sharon said...

Great photos Kelly, I also prefer the peeping tom shots - gives them a bit of an edge.

Ken. said...

Hi Kelly.
Lovely photo's of the Raptor. Always nice watching birds of prey especialy when they are that close. Great photo's.

Anonymous said...

I have not a clue which type of hawk he was but I can tell you one thing for certain . . . he's gorgeous. Kudos to you for catching him. Carol

holdingmoments said...

A real beauty to have visiting Kelly. Those eyes are amazing.

Montanagirl said...

Kelly, you got some great shots here! Not sure which he is either.

Wanda..... said...

Which ever he is, he is beautiful and you are so lucky to have him visiting just out your window!

Ginnymo said...

How beautiful he is Kelly!! That is so cool to have him that close to you!!! He does resemble the Cooper. I've never even heard of that one before.

Redzlan aka Tabib said...

You are so lucky to have this hawk landing near the kitchen.
I don't mind being a Peeping Tom for this. ;)

Mary said...

Wow...I wish that hawks landed that close for me! Wonderful shots of whichever hawk it might be. It is very beautiful!

Chris said...

Hi Kelly, I cannot help you with his name, but I can tell you this are superb shots. Yes, his gaze is terrific and I would not like to be a small mouse as you said!!!

Jayne said...

I vote for the Cooper's too! Wonderful shots!

Unknown said...

Wow! Great photos! I love them.

Laure Ferlita said...

Hmmm, how about a Sharpooper? or a Coosharpie? ;•)


Gorgeous! And with that look, I'd say he can be whatever he wants to!!

Carol Mattingly said...

KELLY, Just a quick note to let you know I've left a little gift for you on my blog. Thanks for all of your wonderful comments. And thanks for all of your gorgeous photos. They inspire me. Carol

Susanna H. said...

His fluffy breast feathers in the last pic remind me of milkweed! Wonderful photos, especially through a window. Our Cooper's are very skittish, but I have seen them dining on mourning dove on our arbor.

Susan Ellis said...

Gorgeous bird and photos of it! I vote for Coopers too...but like you say, the juvies are really variable. So lucky to have him near the window...

E said...

Beautiful, Kelly, hope all is fine.
Here is a bird to see. Hugs and thanks for your art.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/07/birds-of-paradise/holland-text

Caroline said...

Stunning bird - how exciting to be so close! I once rescued a little hawk who fallen down the chimney into the wood burning stove (fortunately not lit!) in my cottage in England! He was very sooty but his eyes were terrifically bright - he was very happy to be released into the open again!!

Unknown said...

Kelly, That's a beautiful series on this raptor.

ShySongbird said...

Great photos Kelly, no help with ID I'm afraid. I hope it isn't taking your garden birds although it has to eat, I just prefer them to eat somewhere else! I have a Sparrowhawk visiting my garden from time to time.

Fascinating post on the Milkweed bugs also.

JPT said...

That's a very impressive bird.

Kelly said...

...Yeah! I think we all agree he's a Cooper's Hawk. He definitely is gorgeous. Thank you for all the kind comments and stories...I have more photos of this fellow to post. I better get busy and get posting! I've fallen so far behind getting my photos out and visiting everyone's blog. I need about three more hours to each day--that would do it...

oldcrow61 said...

Those eyes are beautiful.