Something about the shape of the tip of the tail i remember reading in a falconers study guide one is rounded and one is flat like a rectangle thats all i can remember on how to tell besides size
@whitewater284 Coop is curved. Sharp-shinned has a sharp notch in the base of the tail. That's how I remember. But they are incredibly difficult to tell. A small male coop and large female sharpie can look very similar. God had a goofy sense of humor when he made the accipiters.
Almost impossible to tell sharpies and coopers apart unless you have something for a size scale and get a lot of good looks at them (size scale like the pigeon which sharpies wouldn't likely kill). Coopers hawks heads stick out past the wrist in flight unlike a sharpie.
General rule - if it is bigger than a blue jay its a coops. What do you use to tell them apart, as this is a nasty and tricky thing to accomplish even for biologists, falconers, and breeders that see them both regularly.
Absolutely true! I have a hard time identifying them when they are perching, let alone when they are flying. Many a friendship between birders has been tested when it comes to identifying a bird!
I find coopers have a flatter top-of-head, so to speak (especialy males because of the darker top-of-head...is there a real word for that??). And your blue jay trick isn't that good. Females sharpies get bigger than blue jays!
there are 3 differences
1) Coopers are larger than Sharpies a male Cooper may be about the same size as a female Sharpie because females are larger than males.
2) Coopers have a crest on the top of their head Sharpies do not
3) When flying Coopers have a c-shaped tail Sharpies have a straight tail giving it a sharp look
I do wonder a few of your pictures look like a Northern Harrier though which can be mistaken for Coopers and Sharp-shinned hawks
darkangel33333333333 11 months ago
Superb collection of photos!
temp24Lno5 11 months ago
Something about the shape of the tip of the tail i remember reading in a falconers study guide one is rounded and one is flat like a rectangle thats all i can remember on how to tell besides size
whitewater284 1 year ago
@whitewater284 I have trouble identifying them when they are flying, even with binoculars. I want them to stand still for me! ;)
MyWildlifeVideos 1 year ago
@whitewater284 Coop is curved. Sharp-shinned has a sharp notch in the base of the tail. That's how I remember. But they are incredibly difficult to tell. A small male coop and large female sharpie can look very similar. God had a goofy sense of humor when he made the accipiters.
Cheyenne17124 1 year ago
Almost impossible to tell sharpies and coopers apart unless you have something for a size scale and get a lot of good looks at them (size scale like the pigeon which sharpies wouldn't likely kill). Coopers hawks heads stick out past the wrist in flight unlike a sharpie.
General rule - if it is bigger than a blue jay its a coops. What do you use to tell them apart, as this is a nasty and tricky thing to accomplish even for biologists, falconers, and breeders that see them both regularly.
silverleapers 2 years ago
Absolutely true! I have a hard time identifying them when they are perching, let alone when they are flying. Many a friendship between birders has been tested when it comes to identifying a bird!
MyWildlifeVideos 2 years ago
I find coopers have a flatter top-of-head, so to speak (especialy males because of the darker top-of-head...is there a real word for that??). And your blue jay trick isn't that good. Females sharpies get bigger than blue jays!
afffred 2 years ago
A great collage of this fine bird. Thanks for posting. The pictures of the very young ones are my favorites.
SBfledgling
SBfledgling 3 years ago
Oh yeah. He's more robust. See it in the neck and chest. They raid our bird feeders here. I still love 'em... raised one.
Fun fact filled show here ...and GREAT pictures!
candnrg 4 years ago