Connecticut USA-which Hawk? (1 Viewer)

[lvn600]

I've seen Cooper's, Sharp-shinned, and Broad Wing in this area-can you tell which hawk this is?-thanks

 

[Brushyrun]

Can't say for sure, based only on this single image... but I'm leaning towards a Broad-wing, 1st year plumage. The tail looks relatively too short for the others.

 

[Th_SQ]

Agree with Broad-winged but looks more like a adult for me.

 

[gkrpepper]

almost looks like the one I just posted, but mine is Juvie, and I forgot to look at the tail feathers. I am still guessing. Yours looks more like the broad shouldered just because the wide white striped tailbanding. Maybe you could look at mine?
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Gunter

 

[JANJ]

If you mean this Gunter

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/146896/ppuser/5390

- that is a Red-shouldered Hawk and an adult bird.

The one above here is an adult Broad-winged Hawk. Notice the wide white tailband

JanJ

 

[ceasar]

Right! That is a Broadwing. The tail tells it all. The white part of the breast that we can see indicates that it may be a juvenile but that is not definitive. Mature Broadwings often have a rufous throat and a heavily streaked breast. Tough call. Refer to Wheeler's, "Raptors of Eastern North America." Sitting raptors are usually tough calls. Addendum: Broadwings aren't very big. It's perching on a pretty small branch.
Bob

 

[goshawk227]

Broad-wing, for sure.

 

[lvn600]

o.k.-thanks-so width of the tail band was the best indicator?

 

[Brushyrun]

Yes. Tail was the primary give-away for me. Relatively short, with that single broad band visible. The other types you were considering tend to have relatively longer tails, and I would have expected to be able to see multiple bands showing when perched.

And as Ceasar mentioned, I was guessing this was a yearling bird (in the process of molting from juvie to adult plumage) based on the light colored, lightly streaked breast. Adults in my area tend to have more heavily streaked, rufus brown markings. Immature raptors, in my experience, can go through some rather odd looking changes on the way to their adult markings.

 

[gkrpepper]

thx for the input, I am also new to raptors and the like, but rapidly learning, especially to look at bird from all sides and angles, if you can.....

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Gunter