Not a great picture but is this an american goshawk or coopers hawk? Washington state may 24. (1 Viewer)

[goawildlifeenthusiast]

Was soaring with a golden eagle, but was a little higher so I couldn't really judge the size. Habitat was favorable as i was in the lower elevation of the cascades

 

[THE_FERN]

Of those 2, Cooper's. The relatively thick tail banding with a white tip is wrong for goshawk (and I think I see some rufous on the chest). I think the very rounded tail rules out sharpie

 

[Butty]

Shape of the tail-bands can sometimes be useful for ID of northern goshawk, but not AFAIK their thickness. The effect of some paleness at the tail-tip is partly backlighting and partly photo-artifact - in my opinion. There's less rufous on the chest than on, say, the secondaries, so I would dismiss that as artifact. The tail appears rounded because it's partly spread; the important tail feature for sharp-shinned hawk is the shape of the corners, and here they are fairly square - and in any case it's rarely wise to judge that in flight even in a good photo (which this isn't, no offence) - in my opinion.
I don't see anything here to suggest it's either northern goshawk or sharp-shinned hawk, so I'd guess it's Cooper's hawk - but I wouldn't identify it.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Looks a very slim and lightweight bird, Sharp-shinned for me?

 

[THE_FERN]

If I correctly read it, primary pattern is more like Cooper's. In Sharpie, 2,3 (from inner wing outward) are fairly different lengths, in cooper's they are more nearly the same length (as here)

 

[goawildlifeenthusiast]

Looks a very slim and lightweight bird, Sharp-shinned for me?

I ruled out sharp shinned from size, it was flying with a golden eagle. I couldn’t accurately determine it but sharpies are fairly small and I judged it to be at least a crow size.

 

[goawildlifeenthusiast]

If I correctly read it, primary pattern is more like Cooper's. In Sharpie, 2,3 (from inner wing outward) are fairly different lengths, in cooper's they are more nearly the same length (as here)

Shape of the tail-bands can sometimes be useful for ID of northern goshawk, but not AFAIK their thickness. The effect of some paleness at the tail-tip is partly backlighting and partly photo-artifact - in my opinion. There's less rufous on the chest than on, say, the secondaries, so I would dismiss that as artifact. The tail appears rounded because it's partly spread; the important tail feature for sharp-shinned hawk is the shape of the corners, and here they are fairly square - and in any case it's rarely wise to judge that in flight even in a good photo (which this isn't, no offence) - in my opinion.
I don't see anything here to suggest it's either northern goshawk or sharp-shinned hawk, so I'd guess it's Cooper's hawk - but I wouldn't identify it.

I ruled out sharp shinned from size, it was flying with a golden eagle. I couldn’t accurately determine it but sharpies are fairly small and I judged it to be at least a crow size.

 

[goawildlifeenthusiast]

H

Shape of the tail-bands can sometimes be useful for ID of northern goshawk, but not AFAIK their thickness. The effect of some paleness at the tail-tip is partly backlighting and partly photo-artifact - in my opinion. There's less rufous on the chest than on, say, the secondaries, so I would dismiss that as artifact. The tail appears rounded because it's partly spread; the important tail feature for sharp-shinned hawk is the shape of the corners, and here they are fairly square - and in any case it's rarely wise to judge that in flight even in a good photo (which this isn't, no offence) - in my opinion.
I don't see anything here to suggest it's either northern goshawk or sharp-shinned hawk, so I'd guess it's Cooper's hawk - but I wouldn't identify it.

What are differences to look out for when determining northern goshawk immatures? I think adult is fairly identifiable.

 

[Southern Viking]

H

What are differences to look out for when determining northern goshawk immatures? I think adult is fairly identifiable.

Tail barring far too broad for immature stages of Goshawk for one thing. They have more and narrower dark bars. The structure is wrong for that too. This looks a far skinnier, longer tailed bird. Haven't had personal experience with Cooper's/Sharp-shinned, but as others have said, it looks spot on for Cooper's to me with the rounded tail. From what I've seen (photos/video footage), Sharp-shinned are very much like Sparrowhawk.

 

[njlarsen]

First of all, northern Goshawk is no more. It is either American or Eurasian Goshawk now.

Secondly, if you are in the US for a longer period, then I would encourage you to get your hands on an older book called Hawks in Flight.
Niels

 

[AveryBartels]

Looks good for a Cooper's to my eye based on tail shape and length. Overall proportions seem a good fit for Coop and less so for Goshawk/Sharpie.

 

[pbjosh]

I've never seen either American nor Eurasian Goshawk soaring, but a comment on Cooper's vs Sharp-shinned: Sharp-shinned tends to soar with the wing held a bit more forward, showing a slight crook at the wrist, whereas Coopers tends to have a very straight leading edge to the wing - another point (along with the tail and structure) pointing that this bird is likely a Coopers and certainly not a Sharpie.