Bird of Prey ID? *Warning Graphic Content*

So I have a habit each morning of looking in the back yard to see if any deer or other critters are out for me to photograph. Well this morning I got a little more than I expected. This bird had just landed with his kill. I immediatly ran back, grabbed my camera and switched lenses. After shooting a few shots I thought I should really go wake up my hubby so he could shoot to but I was to afraid the bird would fly off while I was waking him, *sorry babe *. We are pretty sure the preditor is a red tail hawk but we only see them circling in the air, never landed. As far as the prey we have never seen it before and have no clue what it is. Any help in id'ing both birds would be great! Sorry for graphic photos. I was a little upset shooting this as the prey was not dead and I felt bad, but my hubby kept telling me it's nature and there's nothing I could have done about it

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I'm not sure about the bird of prey, it's definitely a hawk but not a red tail. I reckon the prey is a northern flicker, don't take my word for it though, i'm not good on north american birds

TammyC wrote in post #10012507
After shooting a few shots I thought I should really go wake up my hubby so he could shoot to but I was to afraid the bird would fly off while I was waking him, *sorry babe *.

Yep.... I would have appreciated the opportunity to capture it also, but you hogged it all for yourself!

What a way to wake up Coopers Hawk on a Northern Flicker ( also known as a Yellow Shafted Flicker) Excellent photography with good light, details and action. Flickers do seem to be a favourite of the Coopers...

Wow! Nice capture.
Goes to show the early bird gets the worm.....your hubby needs to get up earlier.

Gary nailed the ID's on your beautiful shots. What a way to start the day.

Wow, thanks for the lightening fast ID. It was a different way to start the day thats for sure. It was amazing to witness but sad to see at the same time! I have other shots that are more graphic but didn't want to post offend anyone. Definitely a unique sight in the backyard!

A.Christopher wrote in post #10012539

Yep.... I would have appreciated the opportunity to capture it also, but you hogged it all for yourself!

"The early bird gets the worm."

Great shots.

David

Ah, that is an Adult Coopers hawk, and judging for the size, I would say a female. Great shots!

Very nice series tammy

I had this happen just a couple days ago in the late afternoon in my yard, only the prey was a beautiful , male, yellow-bellied sapsucker and the predator a merlin. The camera was all set to go, but I had to shoot through a closed window at quite an angle and the light was bad and consequently so were the pictures. I felt bad too, both for the sapsucker and my lousy pictures. Good shooting.
Al

A Coopers Hawk in a Natural Pose, That is a Very Fine Capture and it is Survial of the Fittest!

A great series. Very well captured.

Great set of shots. Too bad breakfast was such a nice looking bird. I'd rather see the Coopers flying off with a House Sparrow in each foot and two under each wing.

Wonderful clarity and detail on all of these. Stunning work.