I still find the Accipiter Dilemma (or is it a Conundrum?) tricky. Cooper’s Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) are larger than Sharp-shinned Hawks (Accipiter striatus), but, with the extreme sexual dimorphism of these species, a male Cooper’s is about the size of a female Sharp-shinned.
This bird, however, was tiny. Blue Jay sized. A male Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Square tail, not much head projection beyond the wings, etc., but frankly it was the size that called it.
I don’t see these boys often. Here’s a female seen locally in February, 2018. Here’s some more from March of that year. And still more.
Backyard and Beyond 
0 Responses to “Sharp-shinned Monday”