No, I'm not a hockey fan. Recently a couple of Chicago area blogs have shown pictures of the hawks they have spotted. Although this picture was taken in late summer in our Chicago garden, our visitor seems appropriate to add here today. These are the clearest shots taken from several visits. Apparently the wildlife garden is a place of interest. Both baby rabbits and morning doves have been on the menu.
After looking at a lot of bird guides and trying to figure out just what sort of hawk ,we came to the conclusion it could be a Cooper's hawk but more likely a sharp-shinned hawk.
A squirrel may have had its life saved by our picture taking that day. It sat immobilized by the nearness of the predator until the bird flew off in protest of our meddling presence. The squirrel then moved so fast it seemed to disappear into the foliage.
Later we noticed either the same hawk, or one very similar, perched higher up on the garage for a really good look. See the foot wag? Maybe a shush ,go away, your scaring off dinner?
Other Chicago area blogs with hawk stories...
They are beautiful birds. Yours looks like a young one, whichever kind it is. I would guess Cooper's by the size of the head, eye placement, shape of the body, vertical chest striping, and thickness of the legs, but the differences between the two are subtle, and that's definitely just a guess. Even differences between individual birds of the same kind can make IDing these two a little challenging.
ReplyDeleteWell I to but I contemplate the brief should prepare more info then it has.
ReplyDeleteWe had one land in our yard last March that was such a treat!
ReplyDeletehttp://rosemariegarden.blogspot.com/2009/03/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-march-2009.html
Thank you for adding another urban hawk to the list. It is pretty incredible to be able to see them so close and intimate.
ReplyDeleteWe have taken many pictures of birds but most are not as clear as these few. It is really hard to catch them sitting still so low to the ground and out in the open like these.