The view the other morning. The male American Kestrel arrived first. We heard him before we saw him, as has been typical of the last week, when these little falcons have been in the neighborhood every day. 
The Starlings followed. But then, quick as a flash, the Starlings disappeared.
Yes, it suddenly turned into a two-raptor morning.* 
This Accipiter is a female Sharp-shinned Hawk. That was my guess, but I wasn’t positive so I called in reinforcements for the ID. 
And holy Falco-Accipiter Situation, was it a tangle! (Clicking on images will open them for larger views.)
*Actually four raptors, counting the Peregrine on St. Michael’s earlier and another Kestrel on the 40th St antenna; but who’s counting?! The census so far suggests two male Kestrels and one female in the area. More details to come during Kestrel Week.
Backyard and Beyond 
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