this bird was in my yard this morning but by the time I ran screaming in the house to get my camera it had moved on to my neighbors yard, not a good photo, but any ideas?


noemi
south texas

Based on your location and the size of the bird in relation to that branch, I would wager this is a first year Cooper's Hawk. It definitely has an accipiter tail and it looks too large to be a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Jeff

Almost certainly a "Shooper's" Hawk - either a young Cooper's or a Sharp-shinned, but probably not possible to tell which one without better photos. If it comes back, there are many field marks you can look for to tell the difference - here is a nice guide to the differences between the two:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

It looks like a Juvenile Coopers Hawk to me.

Alan~S Cal

Juvenile Cooper's for me too, based on just this one photo; those legs look stocky enough, fairly thin breast streaking and the head appears large enough I've have one that looks just like it hunting my birdfeeders...

Ruth
Everett, WA
Zone 8

Deef. juvenile Cooper's to me

Mike
Central NJ/Raritan Bay/Sandy Hook