Two Hawks Hunting Out Back This AM

[geezerfinneran]

There were two hawks hunting a squirrel in the back yard this morning.
(They may have been young, because they weren't very good at it !)

I couldn't identify the species .(Coloration was identical, so I'm guessing they had been nest mates.)

Size: about half again the size of a dove.
Color: slate gray top,contrasting buff color at eyes. Breast generally buff.
Wings: relatively broad. Slate gray top; barred "cream" underside.
Tail: seemed short-compared to Sharpshins and Coopers-but about same size as dove.

They were fairly close, and there was no way I could get myself,home oxygen, and a camera out there-dammit !

 

[Gibby]

Geezer,

Sounds like you saw a Cooper's. Sharp-shinned Hawks have long, squared off tail that is barred. I was going to add the American Kestrel as another choice, but you would have easily identified the colorful falcon, if it was in your yard.

 

[geezerfinneran]

Found this Cooper's Hawk on Google:



Looks like my two visitors.