Accipiter

This yellow-eyed, juvenile accipiter is either a Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk. And it probably would have an interesting tale to tell for the bottom feathers on its tail were rather crumpled and frayed! The condition of its tail feathers make identification of this accipiter a bit more difficult. The Sharp-shinned Hawk has a shorter, squared off tail while a Cooper's Hawk has a slightly rounded tail. Another difference between a Cooper's Hawk and Sharp-shinned is size. This hawk was quite large; larger than the usual Sharp-shins that I see occasionally in our feeder area. As well as its size, and dubiously rounded tail; its head, when seen in profile, seemed rather flat. A flat, rather than a rounded head, is also a sometimes mentioned characteristic of a Cooper's Hawk.