Date: 1/14/26 12:54 pm From: Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Coopers?
I'd add the head shape for this photo. Sharp-shinned tend to have a head
that is more rounded like an ice cream cone. Coopers is more rectangular
"blockhead" with a flattish top. This depends on visual angle. Also with
Sharp-shinned ... head is smaller in proportion to body than Coopers in
profile, so it looks almost a little "too small" for the body.
There's a lot of variety in people's visual cues for Cooper vs.
Sharp-shinned. To me the one I usually see first is head shape. I also
note a difference in overall body proportion while flying n- the SS tail
appears "longer" in that it's a bit narrower than on a Cooper's. When tail
is visible on perched bird I'll look at rounded vs flat bottom of tail as
well. Also ... size. While it is often said that a small male Coopers and
large female SS can be the same size, I've personally never seen a blue-jay
sized accipter that I've been able to ID as Cooper's by the other visual
cues. Others here may have, i just haven't..
Matt Shurtliff
Sarpy County
On Wed, Jan 14, 2026 at 1:44 PM Jorgensen, Joel via groups.io
<Joel.Jorgensen...> wrote:
> Joe:
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> This is a Sharp-shinned Hawk. First, aging. It is an immature. The
> most notable field mark I latch onto with your photos are the broad blobby
> rusty colored breast streaks. Cooper’s have narrow breast streaks that are
> darker and overall the underparts look cleaner. More info. can be found on
> sites like this one:
> https://www.audubon.org/magazine/beginners-guide-iding-coopers-and-sharp-shinned-hawks > Note the difference in the breast marking on the side-by-side photos of
> immature birds.
>
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>
> *Joel*
>
> *___________________________________________________________________*
>
> Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager | Nebraska Game and Parks
> Commission
>
> 2200 N 33rd St. | Lincoln, NE 68503 | <joel.jorgensen...> |
> 402-471-5440
>
>
>
> *From:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> *On Behalf Of *Joe F. via
> groups.io
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 14, 2026 1:04 PM
> *To:* <NEBirds...>
> *Subject:* [NEBirds] Coopers?
>
>
>
> Had the hawk back today looking to nab something off my feeders. Sat for a
> half hour right outside the patio door. Cooper’s hawk, correct? I’ve a hard
> time telling between Cooprs and Harris’s.
>
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>
> Joe Freeborn
>
> Wahoo
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