New Visitor to Front Garden Birdbath

[rebbetzin]

This morning I was surprised to see this hawk at the birdbath.

She, I think it's a she, let me come very close to her( about 6 to 8 feet) and get her photo I took about 30 photos! Some with the flash, and she just looked at me, no fear.

I think she is pretty. I won't be letting my chickens free range anytime soon.

 

[Warthog]

What a lovely bird and such a good picture, you were lucky to get so close.

 

[beavis]

That is either a Sharp-Shinned or Cooper's Hawk.

 

[rebbetzin]

That is either a Sharp-Shinned or Cooper's Hawk.

we have lots of Red Tail Hawks in this area.

 

[digitS']

A great photograph!

That is either a Sharp-Shinned or Cooper's Hawk.

I think you are probably right, Beavis.

A friend had a Sharp-Shinned come into his pigeon coop. It lost all interest in the pigeons once it realized that it didn't know the way out!

A very pretty bird and one tough hombre to keep in a cardboard box for a ride out into the countryside for release.

Steve

 

[vfem]

ooooh.... we had a similar experience with a hawk recently. It landing on our deck rail last week. Decided to peer in the house and see what we were doing in the kitchen. Hubby snapped a shot with his camera. Not a good shot though, it was through a window.

Anyways... neat experience!

 

[seedcorn]

isn't it kind of big for a sharp skinned? First glance looked like a juvunile red tail.

 

[beavis]

isn't it kind of big for a sharp skinned? First glance looked like a juvunile red tail.

It's not a red-tailed hawk. Red-tails are from the Genus Buteo and are much larger headed.

This is an Accipter sp., either a Sharp-shinned or a Cooper's.

I used to be a birdwatching guide, I can ID any bird in North America....

 

[digitS']

Okay Beavis, what do I look for with a vireo??

I can do fairly well ID'ing birds but usually need to get up close and personal. The only vireo I could identify had crashed into a window . . .



There's an entire world of mystery out there, on the land, water, and in the sky! But, some things hide behind leaves . . .

S' :/

 

[beavis]

In Idaho, you are most likely to encounter a Warbling VIreo, Least Bell's Vireo,Hutton's Vireo or Plumbeous Vireo.

They are smallish birds, about 6 inches beak to tail, mostly grey in color most with an eyestripe. The bill is thicker and more elongated than a Warbler.

Here are some pics:

Warbling Vireo

Hutton's Vireo

Least Bell's Vireo

Plumbeous Vireo

All pretty similar eh? But there are subtle differences in plumage, voice and sometimes habitat. For example, Least Bell's Vireos love riparian habitat, and since we have lost up to 97% of that in the US, they are a threatened species.