Southern California Birds

[winz]

Need some help with these from So. Cal. earlier this month












Thanks for your help.

[thouc]

1. Looks like Dowitchers, not sure what kind.
2. Female Lesser Goldfinch, I think.
3. Common Sandpiper, I think.
4. Another Dowitcher?
5. Cooper's/Sharp-shinned Hawk, I lean towards Sharp-shinned

/Thomas

[winz]

1. Looks like Dowitchers, not sure what kind.
2. Female Lesser Goldfinch, I think.
3. Common Sandpiper, I think.
4. Another Dowitcher?
5. Cooper's/Sharp-shinned Hawk, I lean towards Sharp-shinned

/Thomas

Thanks Thomas.  I checked ebird and mainly Long-billed Dowitchers were reported in the San Jaoquin Wildlife Sanctuary.  The bird in the second picture had a large insect in it's bill, so I didn't think of Lesser Goldfinch.  Common Sandpiper is very rare for So Cal, maybe a Spotted Sandpiper?  Number 5 looks like a Sharp-shinned, I didn't get a photo of the full tail, which would have given us a better chance of identifying.

[winz]

I just posted the Sandpiper on Whatbird and got reply back that it is Spotted Sandpiper - non breeding plumage.

[thouc]

Yeah, Spotted Sandpiper of course, mind slip by me. The Common is not so common.

[Henrique Pacheco]

It's a sharp shinned hawk.

[winz]

It's a sharp shinned hawk.

Thanks Henrique.  What feature or features point to Sharp-shinned rather than Cooper's?  I believe this is an adult bird, with the orange red eyes and darker head, am I correct?

[Henrique Pacheco]

Yes. An adult. I like to look at the head mostly. Flat topped head, smaller eye proportions, and lack of pale nape which coopers has. It also has more of a hooded appearance vs a coopers which should have a more capped appearance.