Who am I?

[viktoria]

This guy grabbed lunch at the bird feeder outside our kitchen window and perched in a nearby lilac to chow down. At first I thought him a kestrel because that is the small predator we most often see here and the size is right, but enlarged photos show banding on the tail. Merlin? I don't see the markings on the face for either species but this could be a juvenile, which would explain the white spots (molting?) on the back.

Viktoria

[govgirl75]

I think it might be a sparrow hawk. They are small and have banding on their tails.

[viktoria]

The photo here http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/sparrowha ... -8983.html sure looks like the same bird, although my photo is nowhere near so clear (shot through window and screen). What I do not understand is why neither my Peterson nor Audubon bird books show sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus). If it is not supposed to live here, what was it doing in my yard.

Viktoria

[govgirl75]

Oh, I think I might have been wrong. It looks more like a Cooper's hawk. Has the same markings on the closed wings and tail banding with a squared off tail. Do you have Cooper's where you live?

[viktoria]

I believe Cooper's is larger. This one is jay-sized, 10-13", or the size of the kestrels I am accustomed to seeing.

Viktoria

[Chris_W]

Here is a slightly adjusted picture for you. That is really amazing how close to the sparrow hawk this looks!

[steg]

how about a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.... (10-14")

http://www.discoverseaz.com/Wildlife/SharpShinned.html

Smaller version of a Coopers Hawk

[viktoria]

The sparrow hawk seems a better match, although I did consider the sharp-shinned hawk as well. I do not see a notch in the tail but the description does say that it is not always present.

Saw the bird again today but it flew off as I was trying to photograph it.

Viktoria

[viktoria]

Today's photos show the notch in the tail. Photos on the Internet show white spots on the back of juveniles. I do believe it is a sharp-shinned haw.

Viktoria