Interrupting Hawk's dinner (ID help)

This is either a Cooper's Hawk or a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I am leaning toward Cooper's because of the size of its head. Any opinions will be greatly appreciated. (If you can identify the entree, that would be great too! )

As for the picture itself, it was captured in an urban wildlife center in Hutchinson, Kansas. I was walking along a trail, turned a corner, and there it was. I took several shots from this angle, then walked past it to try for some at another angle, and when I turned back, it was gone.

EOS 30, EF 100-400 at 400mm, 1/640 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400

Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Lovely shot! can't help with the id though! Sorry! I am trying to positively id a sparrowhawk myself right now. Not very good with birds of prey

Nice shot. The prominent superciliary stripe (eye stripe) and narrow terminal tail band suggest an immature Sharp-shinned hawk to me.

Nice Capture! My original thought was Cooper's over Sharpy since Sharpy's have noticable thin legs thus "Sharp-shinned". I got out my Sibley guide and now think that may be a Merlin. The eye color (not yellow or red) and white throat makes me say Merlin. Also, accipiters have relatively long tails.

On second thought I agree with Rathke that it is a Merlin.

rathke wrote in post #3039586
Nice Capture! My original thought was Cooper's over Sharpy since Sharpy's have noticable thin legs thus "Sharp-shinned". I got out my Sibley guide and now think that may be a Merlin. The eye color (not yellow or red) and white throat makes me say Merlin. Also, accipiters have relatively long tails.

Thanks to all for the comments. I am with you and Coderunner now that it is a Merlin. I had Cooper's and Sharp-shinned on my mind, as I had recently shot an immature Cooper's, and it took me forever to figure out if it was that, or a Sharpie. Funny how you make initial decisions and then fail to consider alternatives.

No guesses on the prey?

The markings look like a Merlin shown in my book, except for the yellow, and I don't get what that stick coming out of the preys leg is about. Looks weird.

canonloader wrote in post #3039935
The markings look like a Merlin shown in my book, except for the yellow, and I don't get what that stick coming out of the preys leg is about. Looks weird.

The stick is actually along side of the prey. The body of the prey is covering part of the stick. It took me a while to figure that out.

My Audubon Field Guide (the one with the photos) and a pocket guide to Kansas Raptors that I have (also with photos) show the yellow on the face of Merlins. I don't normally like the guides with photos, as their representations are limited, but occasionally they come in handy.

Cool shot. What did the bird make for its dinner, another bird?

wcl4 wrote in post #3041086
Cool shot. What did the bird make for its dinner, another bird?

Yes. All I can tell is that is has white feathers.

I would've been scared that bird would chase me or something