Cooper's Hawk or Goshawk - USA - WA State (1 Viewer)

[BodyResults]

This bird was seen a couple days ago spiraling up on the thermals in the mountains. I was at about 4,500 elevation just North of Ellensburg.

The bird was very distant at the time of the shots. A very knowledgeable person I was with was about 95% confident this was a Goshawk.

I'm having a hard time making a call form the photos. The body does look thick like a Goshawk but things wings seem a bit closer to a Cooper's to me.

What do you guys think and why?

Thanks
Doug

 

[Nutcracker]

Cooper's for me - not even a hint of a pale supercilium, and underparts too orangey-brown.

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

This bird is molting, and it's undertail coverts are a bit fluffed out, making the tail and wing shape look a bit odd. But a Northern Goshawk should show an even thicker body, not narrowing at the legs like this. And of course, if you see reddish barring on the underparts, that's a 100% certainty you aren't looking at a Northern Goshawk.

 

[fugl]

Agree, Cooper's

 

[BodyResults]

Thanks everyone.

Doug