Leucistic Hawk ID (1 Viewer)

[Surreality]

My mother sent me this picture of a hawk from her neighborhood and asked if I could ID it for her. She lives in west central Ohio and this bird was spotted about 2 weeks ago I believe.

My first inclination is that it is a leucistic Cooper's hawk based on shape, size and the long tail. It looks like the right tail feather is shorter than the rest but it could be due to molting.

What are everyone's thoughts?

 

[RJP]

Welcome to BirdForum. I agree - correct wing primary/secondary proportional lengths, as well as wingtip placement on the tail, and right shape, for Cooper's Hawk. Cool bird!

 

[stevethehydra]

Wow, that's a strikingly beautiful bird. I think it has to be an Accipiter because of the long tail... but I'm imagining it will be even harder than with "normally-plumaged" birds to tell which!

 

[Surreality]

Thanks Randy! I should have joined this forum awhile ago. Glad I did now.

 

[fugl]

Agree with the others, an accipiter, probably a Coop judging by the short outer tail feathers.

I wonder how the bright white plumage affects its success as a hunter? Could go either way I suppose: negatively (easier for prey species to spot--except in snow, of course) or positively (less immediately recognizable by prey species as a threat).