Cooper's Hawk or Goshawk? (1 Viewer)

[Robert / Seattle]

It seems like the balance has shifted to coopers. ... Joe

Either way, a fine example of ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny. Tricky little bugger!

Robert / Seattle

 

[ceasar]

I vote for juvenile Cooper's also. Based on size, probably a female. The Goshawk has much thicker Tarsi and the immature Goshawk has a gray mottled back. Also the Iris's of a juv. goshawk are commonly orangish-yellow where as the iris of this bird is a pale grayish green which is a common color for a juvenile Coopers.
Bob

 

[streatham]

why are they always juvies or non-adult?

I would say that due to pretty high mortality rates not many birds make it to adulthood so a high percentage of birds you tend to see are young hawks that are just destined not to make it. I used to do leading at the local Eagle Festival and I remember that the figure banded about was that under 50% of birds make it through the first year - hence the low percentages of adult birds seen.

Luke

 

[danehower]

I would say that due to pretty high mortality rates not many birds make it to adulthood so a high percentage of birds you tend to see are young hawks that are just destined not to make it. I used to do leading at the local Eagle Festival and I remember that the figure banded about was that under 50% of birds make it through the first year - hence the low percentages of adult birds seen.

Luke

that is pretty grim - but it makes good sense. Has to be a hard living hunting birds in the first case. Thank you for the response Luke, it is something I alway's wondered about.