Unknown Accipiter eating Robin

Video was taken July 10, 2007 at Parker Dam State Park (PA). This is a several acre grass overflow parking area which is surrounded by a day-use picnic area and extensive mature mixed forests.

I am unsure of the exact species. Could either be a Sharp-shinned or a Cooper's Hawk. I am leaning more towards a Cooper's Hawk based on the size of the bird and shape of the tail. If you have any insight on the proper ID of the bird, please comment.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Coopers
• Accipiter
• hawk
• bird
• wildlife
• robin
• predator
• prey

[VideoBirder]

I agree this is a Cooper's; eating a robin?  Note the large head and the rounded tail. Coops are rapidly becoming resident birds (like red-tails) in many places around the country.

[Rangerbobthebirdman]

Robin = American Robin (Turdus migratorious)

[Falconhawk123]

@jroth848 I know that. I have just never seen a cooper as small as any sharpshin.

[jroth848]

@Falconhawk123 While it is true that Coops are, for the most part, larger than shins, size is often not the best characteristic to use for identification. Members of the genus Accipiter exhibit an exaggerated degree of reverse sexual size dimorphism (i.e.,females are significantly larger than males). So, yes, there is a huge size difference if you have a male shin and female Coop, but if you're comparing a female shin to a male Coop, there is very little difference in size.

[Falconhawk123]

@jroth848 I agree, but also note that shins are smaller than coppers or at least in all I have seen and I have seen both up close from falconers.

[jroth848]

@jroth848 I can also say this is an adult bird; it looks like it has horizontal brownish-red barring on the breast rather than vertical dark streaks (which would signal a juvenile).

[jroth848]

Definitely strikes me as a Cooper's Hawk.

Generally speaking, Cooper's Hawks have more squared-off-looking head than Shins, tend to "show less eye" (smaller in proportion to the head), have thicker legs, more rounded tails, and more white showing at the tip of the rectrices. Also there tends to be a greater constrast between the grey cap and the cheek. But yes, it can be very subtle.

[bobbyd96]

Cool video. I just got home to a huge cooper's hawk eating a robin in my backyard. I almost got my really nice camera, but he flew off. They are definitely making a comeback, because I have tons. Keep Birdin'

[mattfoley59]

i vote cooper's hawk.

[snitcherpup]

When I was a kid back in the 60's nobody ever saw them. They were very reclusive. Now they are everywhere, hanging out in backyards , staking out bird feeders. Cool birds for falconry.

[caitlmac1]

I also have a hard time telling the two species apart! Espescially since the female sharpee is about the same size as a male coopers, or so I've been told.