RFI Raptor - Hawk

[Wringer]

We were walking along the edge of a park and flushed this bird up into the overhanging trees. He was feeding on a rabbit - possibly carrion(?).

He wasn't too shy and hung around long enough for me to go home (close by) and get my camera. If I got too close for him he just went up to a higher branch. Roughly 16 inches from head to tail - the tail was squared off and barred.

http://ian-smuck.fotopic.net/p46337435.html

http://ian-smuck.fotopic.net/p46337436.html

http://ian-smuck.fotopic.net/p46337438.html

http://ian-smuck.fotopic.net/p46337459.html

Thanks

[Iain]

Looks like a juvenile Cooper's Hawk.  Possibly a large Sharp-shinned but it has the 'feel' of a Cooper's to me.

Iain

[Carl-Adam]

I agree with Iain!

[thouc]

The tail looks rounded, so I agree with Cooper's.

[Wringer]

Thanks.

We saw the same bird (we think) on the weekend on the ridge line behind our house and a hundred meters or so from where I photographed it. It was being harrassed by a couple of crows. But he was feisty and gave as good as he got. The crows gave up and left finally.
 He was about 2/3 to 3/4 the size of the crows.