Raptor ID Please

Not my photo, but trying to help get a positive ID. Photo taken in Vermont. This is a screen shot.

Northern goshawk?

i'd ask them for the photo right before this...it would probably help more for identification purposes...

DreDaze wrote in post #18268896
i'd ask them for the photo right before this...it would probably help more for identification purposes...

I did ask for more photos. He said he will try to post them later.

http://merlin.allabout​birds.org

Larry Johnson wrote in post #18268960
http://merlin.allabout​birds.org

That's my go too source, but we disagree on what bird it is, so I decided to ask here! I have not seen any other photos yet.

the tail to me doesn't seem long enough to be an accipiter...but that would be determined by seeing a sitting photo...if i had to guess i'd say it's an immature red-tail...but that may just be a random guess.

DreDaze wrote in post #18268992
the tail to me doesn't seem long enough to be an accipiter...but that would be determined by seeing a sitting photo...if i had to guess i'd say it's an immature red-tail...but that may just be a random guess.

That is my guess as well. The one who took the photo identified it as a Cooper's Hawk!

SJC from VT wrote in post #18269010
That is my guess as well. The one who took the photo identified it as a Cooper's Hawk!

yeah, i really don't see that at all...sometimes i'm pretty amazed at what people think they took a photo of.

The dark bar on wing between shoulder and wrist says Red-tailed Hawk.

Sandy, this is a immature Red-tailed Hawk. Note the dark patagial marks (dark band on the leading edge of the wing) and the spots across it's belly. These are dianostic of a RTH.

txcanon wrote in post #18269327
Sandy, this is a immature Red-tailed Hawk. Note the dark patagial marks (dark band on the leading edge of the wing) and the spots across it's belly. These are dianostic of a RTH.

Sure is! Cooper's hawks are built differently with long rails, shorter wings, and more slender bodied than Red-tailed hawks.

txphotographer wrote in post #18269063
The dark bar on wing between shoulder and wrist says Red-tailed Hawk.

txcanon wrote in post #18269327
Sandy, this is a immature Red-tailed Hawk. Note the dark patagial marks (dark band on the leading edge of the wing) and the spots across it's belly. These are dianostic of a RTH.

Beekeeper wrote in post #18269355
Sure is! Cooper's hawks are built differently with long rails, shorter wings, and more slender bodied than Red-tailed hawks.

Thank you all so much for confirming my identification of this beautiful raptor. I have been learning so much the last couple of years, and when I saw this identified as a Coopers Hawk, I couldn't let it go!
I still question my ability, but the photographer said it was not a Red-tail Hawk after I said I thought that is was!

Txcanon explained it really well.

Beekeeper wrote in post #18272874
Txcanon explained it really well.

Those were my observations as well. The young man that took the photo was very appreciative when I explained to him how many of you confirmed my identification!