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Michaela
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| Posted: Aug 27 2008 at 5:57pm | IP Logged
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It looks too small to pick up one of our chickens.
A Hawk, yes?
Should I be concerned? 
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Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Aug 27 2008 at 6:38pm | IP Logged
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Well, dd identifies it as probably a red-shouldered hawk. It probably cannot pick up a chicken. (It's not much bigger than a full-grown rooster.)
We have them here, and they do drive off birds and squirrels pretty quickly. We hear lots of warning bird calls when our resident hawk is in area.
They can get squirrels, baby rabbits and similar-sized creatures.
Still, it's kind of nice to be allowed to live in our hawk's territory. She's pretty gracious about it.
Great photo, by the way!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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MacBeth
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They will take young chicks, if they can get them, though. Nice shot!!
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Michaela
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It certainly does look like a Red-shouldered Hawk.
I thought the squirrels and birds had disappeared because of the chickens. It hadn't occured to me that a hawk could be the culprit. Come to think of it, the rabbit population has increased to numbers that could keep that hawk busy for a while.
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Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
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MaryM
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I'm just going to jump in here and be a little contrary (you know what they say, Mary, Mary, quite...  ) Anyway when I read Nancy's post I said a Red-"what"ed Hawk. I'm not familiar with Red-shouldered Hawks and come to find out that is because they are an eastern hawk almost exclusively (can be found in California west of the Sierras).
Since that would be a very rare sighting up your way, Michaela, most likely it is a more common western hawk -like the Red-tailed Hawk which would be abundant in your area. But I can't tell color or wing and facial markings enough in the picture to know for sure. It is also very possible that it is a juvenile Sharp-shinned or Cooper's which are not as common but are in your area as well.
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Mary M. in Denver
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lapazfarm
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I am going to be further contrary and say that with that long barred tail and that distinct head it is a Northern Harrier. Which is a smallish , low-flying hawk. Lovely bird.
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Theresa
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MaryM
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Your funny, oh, contrary Theresa. I'm still not sure. I almost listed juvenile Northern Harrier as a possiblity also but it's not as common in that area as the others. Since you pointed out the tail length, Theresa, I realized that it is an accipiter not buteo so not the red-tail Hawk. But Cooper's and Sharp-shinned also have long barred tails (though Sharp-shinned is more squared). Wish I could see the face better. What are you seeing that I'm not. Theresa? It is a really shadowy head on my computer so can't distinguish any features. Juvenile Cooper's, Sharp-shinned and Harriers look pretty similar. Doesn't the Harrier have owl like eye disks so looks the most different in the face?
This site - Bird Web - is for birds of Washington State. It really is a pretty nice site. Maybe if you had a look at some of the pics it would help you identify, Michaela, especially since I can't tell the colors from the pic.
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Mary M. in Denver
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Michaela
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MaryM wrote:
| Maybe if you had a look at some of the pics it would help you identify, Michaela, especially since I can't tell the colors from the pic. |
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After I look up the words accipiter and buteo.
I was so proud just to be able to identify it as a hawk. From a distance, we weren't certain if it was a hawk or an owl.
Straight on, the face resembled an owl, but that didn't seem correct. I questioned why it was out in the open during the day, but most of all, the tail caught my attention. It was long not short (accipiter not buteo ). It wasn't until I went outside and stood under it that I was sure it was a little hawk.
I was so proud that I identified it . I told to my children that because of its size, it must be a "juvenile hawk". How's that for identification?
It's hard to see the owl-like face in my picture, but in the link Theresa shared, the large picture on the left of the hawk on a branch is what I saw. The wings and thick neck area remind me of an owl. It was when it turned it's face to the side that I positive that it was a hawk.
So much to learn.
Thank you so much!
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Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
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MaryM
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Way to go, Michaela! 
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Mary M. in Denver
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: What is it?
