How to ID Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks: NARRATED

Telling the difference between a Cooper's and a Sharpie is the most challenging distinction North American birders face. Thank you to Jean Swanson for lending me her footage of a Sharpie squeezing a Robin to death and to California Wildlife for his footage of a Cooper's eating prey.

[communistvulture]

Wonderful video! The images helped me finally pin down Sheila, scourge of my doves, as a Coop’s.

[susanmb]

Thank you so much for this video!!! We are in a NW suburb of Chicago. We have a feeder and bath. Suet. The birds love it and so do our furry long-tailed friends. LOL! This morning we had a Cooper's in our yard. He was sitting on the ground at the base of a large bush. My niece noticed him and I grabbed my binoculars. From the kitchen I could see him clearly. He started walking and I saw the leg feathers. I love watching eagles and his "pants" reminded me of that. Beautiful. From the ground he went to sit on the fence, the flew from one fence to another finally lading in next door neighbors peach trees. We've been hearing him for week but, this was the first close sighting. Awesome!

[gemstorm]

What a humorously-narrated video! I'm just a very casual observer who saw a hawk today and your tone comforted me in my inability to pin down the species. Thanks for such a fun video.

I do think it was a Coopers I saw far up in that tree, but only because I heard it first, and checked some videos of their calls. You're right though, whatever species it was, it was a pretty special moment for me today!

[sandyl.]

Thank you so much! This is the best and easiest to understand explanation I've found. Your voice is so calming, so you are very pleasant to listen to. I cap on the Coop's head told me what I needed to know today, so I'm very happy that I now know for sure that I have a Cooper's hanging out in my backyard... by my bird feeders, unfortunately, but that's nature. 💜

[RussHeim]

"Coop has a cap" will certainly stick with me as a memorable mnemonic device... Thanks Jo! :)

[eleonoradjurdjic]

Gosh Jo, I just love your videos and your way of teaching!! Not to mention your lovely, soothing voice that conveys such loving kindness! I appreciate you so much! Thank you for sharing your wisdom & experience in this way!!🥰🙏💖✨🕊 You brighten my life and the world by doing so!! Wishing you all the best and that you have joy in every day!!!🌈✨💖🤩✨

[lajesq]

Thank you, Jo. You helped me identify the juvenile Sharpie that visited my very small, urban backyard today. It was a gorgeous bird.

[robertmcmanus]

Thanks. Excellent step by step identification process and the narration is great. I'm so tired of the "pumped up" narrators. A delightful site and sound video!

[djsaucylady]

I just saw for the first time I believe the shark shinned hawk on top of my birdfeeder in my backyard. I’m always watching my feeder like a hawk ;) and I had to look up what I was seeing and came across your YouTube. Thank you for posting!

[deckard]

Really enjoyed this presentation... thank you. Had (what I think was a Sharpie) nail a dove in my backyard a few weeks ago.. me, being the amateur bird lover tried to identify this little guy... enter the "identify the hawk" debate.. Here in Colorado, there are about 13 different indigenous species... I think I'm hooked.

[Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Thanks so much for your excellent, very detailed explanation of the differences between the two.
According to the maps showing their respective territories, we have both species in my area, although I don't believe I have seen a Sharp-Shinned yet.

[adrienne]

Great coverage of the topic. Thank you. I especially liked the bit at the end about the wing flaps. I should remember that! Sharp=fast!

[raindrop]

Great video - in the past I have always just ceded to other folks' assessments/IDs and now I actually have some really good tips for trying to identify on my own! Thank you so much for the work you put into this video.

[emilychan]

Thank you, Jo, for that very informative video. You're right. It's very hard to distinguish between sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks.. Had what I thought was a female, immature sharp-shinned in my yard having a late breakfast. Unfortunately, I believed she nailed one of the few chickadees that comes to my feeder.

[jk-]

hello jo

thank you for this information.
i sea many birds and i appreciate your wisdom


thanks again
j.k

also was wonder what you think that most difficult Floridian bird would be ?

[pamelakern]

I will watch this video many times . I have always had some trouble identifying these hawks!!

[TubeMonkey]

Super helpful. I am not a birder by hobby, but living in eastern TN I have the good fortune of seeing a lot of cool wildlife, even at home!

We have what I think must be a Cooper’s hawk sitting on the fence across our hard. Hard to get a good pic in the rain, but through some binoculars it is beautiful!

This video was super helpful! Maybe it’s here to help out with the chipmunk problems we had this past gardening season!!!

[theladynextdoor]

Great video & quite helpful, thank you! I’m about 90% sure what I saw hunting in my yard was a Cooper’s Hawk. Luckily I got to see it pretty close up and the took notice of the wing speed. He/she was a very determined hunter and I had the privilege of watching it in my yard for a good half hour! I’m in the midwest (MI). I got out my binoculars for that one.

[Steparo]

Nice video. I think what I saw yesterday in our backyard was an immature sharpie. Thanks for the helpful video!!

[quote_nature]

Thank you Jo for taking on Cooper's Hawks and Sharpies!! It is something I grapple with. Since we mostly have Cooper's I have been accustomed to their head shape, size, rounded tail, and color but... I also think I have never seen a Sharpie since I doubt myself. Also, was told that tail wear can make a Cooper's tail look squared off LOL. If only they would perch together ; ) Thank you for the excellent tips and graphics!! Best, Cathy