Cooper's and Sharp-Shinned Hawks: NARRATED

This pair of short films show you first how these two hawks behave and second, how to tell them apart. PLEASE CLICK 'LIKE' IF YOU APPRECIATE THE MOVIE,

[@codiel9097]

FANTASTIC- I got a video of a hawk in my back yard hunting a quail he had been trying to rustle out a tree. The vertical stripes on his breast, white eyebrows, notched/flattened tail, and rapid succession of his wings during flight make me 95% certain it was a juvenile sharp-shinned hawk. Thank you! :)

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks for telling me that, Codie. I mean, you went right down the list! I love it that the movie helped you with the I.D. Oh, and that's unusual footage. I've got two poor shots of a Cooper's chasing other birds. They're here and gone so fast you just gotta get lucky. And it sounds like you did.

[@lar7905]

Fantastic ...so detailed, truthfully so much info demands a a second viewing....Thank you. Thank you !

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I’m happy to hear from someone who appreciates the video so much, Lar. Before I made this movie I did one just about the Cooper’s Hawk, and I misidentified two Sharpies as Cooper’s. If I had done the movies in reverse order, I’d have known enough not to make those mistakes. Anyway, just for grins, you might want to watch the first movie and see if you can spot the two mistakes. Good practice, right?

[@lar7905]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME I will do it tonight. Thanks for the follow up. ...Larry

[@jasonbarlow8263]

This was so helpful. I know for a fact that I have 2 Cooper’s hawks in our neighborhood now. One immature and one adult

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I enjoy hearing that this movie helped you ID your hawks. Thanks for commenting, Jason.

[@lisamcallister6534]

I was in hospital and these videos made for enjoyable times.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Aww, I like knowing that, Lisa. I hope you're out of hospital and feeling well.

[@jeffersonmarshall3926]

Sorry to be offtopic but does any of you know a trick to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb forgot the account password. I would love any tips you can offer me!

[@jaceeliseo5491]

@Jefferson Marshall instablaster =)

[@AcmePotatoPackingPocatello]

Size. Sharp Shinned is Robin sized P.S. what a great setting Very well done ...bravo

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I googled the size of each. Sharpie: 10-14 inches, Robin: 9-11. So, yeah, the size is pretty close. And I appreciate the "bravo".

[@jeffolson4731]

Great video. I really struggled with these two birds. Even when I get photos of them and do a comparison I never quite feel like I am 100% sure.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks, Jeff. I'm glad you found it useful. Of course, there'll still be plenty of times when you're not sure which one you saw, but it will only be when they're distant or disappear in a jiffy.

[@coldspring624]

Very cool birds. I do not mind them visiting at all and they are a part of the whole. I have seen them almost hover while reaching out and plucking a woodpecker of a tree to full speed through thick woods bursting into an opening and turning doves into a cloud of feathers. I like all birds and they have their place

[@LibertyLakeWildlife]

Great footage here. Wow! We both in our back yard and I always wonder about ID!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks for letting me know how much you appreciated this footage, Toivo. Yes, we get both of them too. Unless we get a good close look, we still don’t know for sure all the time which one we are seeing, but it helps to have so many different field marks you can use to figure it out. Happy hawk watching, and thanks for commenting.

[@christianerbgarten5057]

The size of the eye in relation to the head is a good field mark

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

You're right. I should have said so.

[@bobbyoneil5669]

Thanks that's awesome review 😀

[@darrendavy4248]

Brilliant thank you

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

You're welcome, Darren. Glad you liked it.

[@radiojacktv4533]

Thanks so much for the infos. Amazing.. I found your channel searching for grosbeak.. Amazing video and narration.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks! ☺️

[@jameslomenzo1139]

It was nice seeing my Purple Martin's attack the pair of Cooper's last year, Martins will run them away.

[@catiecampbell8580]

I absolutely love these videos! Where do you live? I'm here in Beaufort, SC and highly recommend birding at The Cypress Wetlands in Port Royal, SC.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm in St. Louis, MO. I have little (well, no, actually) occasion to get to South Carolina, but any wetlands is a wonderful place to see birds. Enjoy yours.

[@wrdjr10gmail]

thank you great video

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Glad you liked it. I also did one about just the Cooper's: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGWbdIuCZs2rotU

[@arinhuntsman7028]

Great informational video!!!!!! Very helpful :-)!! Such beautiful birds

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks, Erin. I learned so much useful info when I searched the net to make the movie. As for beautiful, no doubt about it. My favorite shot shows him from the rear, fanning his tail as he preens.

[@TheKiwibirder]

This was just excellent! Thank you!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thank you for commenting. Your compliment is appreciated.

[@pamelakern2849]

I always have found telling these two hawks apart frustrating. I can always count on hawks visiting my feeders . They leave small piles of feathers around the backyard. These hawks are skilled hunters I have great respect for all beautiful hawks . I will definitely watch your video many times . This should help me considerably 🤔

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Oh I know what you mean about watching this movie many times, Pamela. I've had to watch it many times myself because even though I wrote the script, after a few months I forget some of what's in it. 🥴

[@quote_nature]

This is a film I can always watch Jo. You've shared crucial information and the continuing frustration. Love it!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks, Cathy. At the very least, it's a useful reference work to have on your shelf.

[@andreabank8786]

All these videos are fantastic!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Love to hear that! Thank you.

[@frankhopkins7032]

Well done Ma'am!! I have chickens that free range and I'm always on the watch for predator birds. I was mistaken thinking the Coopers was a small Peregrine, since we have several of those in our area. So among the Bald Eagles, Red Tail Hawks and Peregrine Falcons now I'm watching out for the Coopers Hawk!! Fortunately several times in the last week the Blue jays have chased the Coopers Hawk away!! Love your videos Ma'am!!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks for commenting, Frank. I enjoyed your description of the predators you see. Those Bluejays are the local militia.

[@canature9128]

Ah yes, the challenge of trying to tell the two apart - makes my head spin! I have seen both myself, but it’s been the Cooper’s I’ve seen most. Or so I think!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

"Or so I think." Yeah, exactly.

[@riverbender9898]

Excellent video. Thank you. I my meadow, I have Coopers, Sharpies and Red-Tailed.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I'm glad you enjoyed the movie. Yep, those are the same three hawks we typically get.

[@jackwood8307]

Great info!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thank you, Chuck. Now go forth and put it to use.😉

[@MichaelKensinger]

I hope you are recovering well! I enjoy your videos!

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Thanks. I'm coming along.

[@samuelgoodman2825]

I think I have a Coopers hunting my yard but gonna get a better look now.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Good luck!

[@prettybird2588]

Glad to see you back Jo hope all is well.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Not too long after I had the stem cell procedure done, I started using dictation on my computer to answer comments. It's slow work. (If this computer were a steno student, it would get an F.) But I like hearing from my viewers and staying in touch with them, so here I am.

[@MHarenArt]

SUper interesting video! Made me go to my birding site to take a closer look.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I am glad you found it so interesting, Maggie. Whenever I make a long movie, I know that getting viewers for it will be in uphill slog; but I thought this topic deserved it anyway. I've been working on a film that's almost 20 minutes long about why native plants are so important to wildlife. The topic matters more to me then any other one I have done ... but 20 minutes?! But back to this one: what birding site are you referring to? An actual place where you might see these hawks?

[@MHarenArt]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME It's an internet site where one can find lots of info about birds: sounds, characteristic etc. A great place for comparisons, too, of brds that are so similar. Give s a great place to toggle bck and forth on photos to compare. I'll be very intersted in yoru plantlife video too!! I'm going to sh are your video with my birding group. www.allaboutbirds.org/news/

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Sparrows are the birds that confound me. I am not motivated to memorize all those fields marks, which is a polite way of saying I'm lazy. But I did enjoy getting these two hawks straight. Even my husband, who is a much more experienced, knowledgeable birder than I am, learned from it. He didn't know about the eyebrow on immature sharpies. I always like to hear that a movie of mine is being shared, and I think the people in your group will find this one useful. I regularly use Cornell lab when I'm doing the research for my scripts. I don't use the site you linked to, though; I just lean on my husband for help with iDs. 🥴

[@mikerobertson6663]

Jo you have done such an incredible amazing job . Yet you have thrown me into a terrible dilemma. I’m more convinced now than ever that I do indeed have Cooper’s hawks and sharp shinned hawks. I recently by luck 🍀 filmed a Kestrel chasing off a Coopers Hawk. Who knows ? Maybe it was a sharpie. Based on the size I’m guessing Coopers.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Wow! A Kestrel chasing a Cooper's or a Sharpie?!You're lucky to even SEE that much less film it. That merits TWO four-leaf clovers. And by the way, thanks for your generous praise of the movie.

[@alyssahansen1400]

Do they have a difference in call? I hear vocalizations more often than I see the specimen itself. Lives around my house/neighbors houses and is making noise very frequently. If I had a zoom camera or binoculars then maybe I would be able to ID it by appearance, but the images I have as it stands don't give much detail. All I know is that there's barring on the chest (so its an adult), dark grey on the top, and lighter bottom, and the bottom of the tail has dark grey stripes. Which I believe could describe either of them.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

I’m afraid I can’t help you with the difference in calls because I’m in the opposite situation: I’ve seen them far more than I’ve heard them. I would suggest googling their calls. If there’s a difference, you should be able to tell.

[@alyssahansen1400]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME Well, it's hard to know if there is a difference because there are multiple different sounds they can make. So if I notice a difference I might just be comparing completely different sounds when there actually is a counterpart. How reliable would you say the wingbeat identifier is?

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

@@alyssahansen1400 The wingbeat difference is probably the most reliable of all.

[@merrilldudley7594]

I'll have to watch this over and over. How are you feeling...I think you mentioned you had surgery? Really love that you share your knowledge with us. Stay Healthy Please.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Yes, Merrill, this one requires a bunch of viewings because there is a lot to master in the part about how to ID them. Write to me one of these days when you've seen one of these hawks and successfully used what you learned to identify it. What I had done was stem cell repair for a torn tendon in my right elbow and a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder. Since I haven't been able to use my arms for much at all this last month, I've learned how much we use our arms! I've had hip surgery twice and been unable to walk for awhile. Turns out that's much less frustrating than being without your arms. I am dictating this message, and if this computer was a steno student, it would get an F! But I am healing, and this procedure was far less painful than surgery. I am very grateful to have found a way to deal with the torn tendon. Surgery would have been useless. I might have become permanently unable to film. So instead of kvetching, I should be happy, nay lyrical. And once I am able to get my mitts on a camcorder again, I will be.

[@RJFPme]

They hunt the pigeons at the old school by my home.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

Oh yes, I'll bet they do.

[@kimberlyk4951]

so, they also sound alike? I thought I heard/saw a coopers in my backyard tree today

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

They're impressive creatures, Kimberly. I wish you more sightings of them.

[@Frank020]

How do I make them come back? I used to find pigeon feathers every week. Haven't seen them since last year. Ravens next door are new.

[@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME]

The only thing you can do to coax them back is provide habitat that draws lots of birds. But I guess it’s possible that there just aren’t any Cooper’s Hawks left in your neighborhood.

[@Frank020]

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME I don't know...or maybe they like the cooler weather. There was a empty field on the corner, but it was cleared for new homes. They may have hunted rabbits, and mice there, even coyotes came.