Summer Tanager



A Summer tanager is visiting a suet feeder in east Boise.  The feeder can be seen on Hwy 21 just before Surprise Way.  The feeder is in the back yard of a light yellow, two story house.  There is a large pull off near the house.  

Map coordinates are in my checklist.

P1010516
Denise Hughes

Caldwell, Idaho 
Any day might be a special one-you  just had to go outside and see if it was.—-Kenn Kaufman

Re: Hawk ID

I agree, great discussion, and one of my favorite group of birds!  
A quick follow up regarding the streaking pattern. As Ken was mentioning, on the goshawk, the streaking continues all the way down into the undertail coverts, whereas with the Cooper, the streaking continues all the way down the belly, to the legs, and a bit beyond, but then stops, does not continue into the undertail covers, which appear clean and white.  
My previous comment on the streaking was focussed on the pattern itself, that I don’t trust using the shape of the streaking, or the color, to help identify Cooper versus sharpie versus goshawk. That became apparent to me when I was seeing these birds in my yard, and this picture shows two very different presentations of a juvenile Cooper. At that point I stopped using streaking pattern itself as a way to distinguish these birds!
image

Re: Hawk ID

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Coopers_Hawk/species-compare/39231651

Check out the comparison between immature Cooper’s Hawk and immature Northern Goshawk on all about birds linked here. The thick streaks/blotches go all the way down onto the under-tail coverts on a juvenile Goshawk.

On Apr 4, 2023, at 12:23 PM, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@…> wrote:


Ken,
 
First of all, great pictures. Second, I wish I had you kitchen window. Here is one more picture. It is a terrible view of everything, except for the tail, so maybe that will help. I would say it looks like the tail on Coopers.
 
Thanks to everyone for a lively discussion, it has been very educational.
 
Tom Soniville
 
From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Ken Miracle via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 9:38 AM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Hawk ID
 
I have seen the variety of streaking size and shape but one thing that has been constant i the extension of it into the undertail coverts and I have only seen that on the Northern Goshawk. 
On Apr 4, 2023, at 9:18 AM, scott urban <scotturban610@…> wrote:
 
I agree with Ken and Louisa, it’s good for immature Cooper, not Goshawk. Just for fun, here is a side-by-side picture of each bird, both taken out my kitchen window a few years ago. (Boise Foothills).  I don’t completely trust the streaking pattern on these Coops as a primary  identification: I have pictures of Coopers that show a range from bold teardrops, to thin streaks. I guess for me that feature falls under the category of “usually but not always”. 
 
<image001.jpg>

On Apr 4, 2023, at 7:46 AM, Louisa Evers <elouisa603@…> wrote:


The belly markings are not heavy enough and the wrong shape for an immature goshawk.
 
On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 7:31 AM David Whitacre <davewhitacre@…> wrote:
I think Tom McCabe is right…my immediate take was Goshawk, and I still think so. Tom Soniville says he never saw a Coop close to this size…and everything about this bird looks super robust…plus very heavy breast/belly/flank markings that extend quite far down the belly as is typical for Gos…too bad one can’t see the tail bands better to look for the wavy margins typical of a Goshawk, but still…
Dave Whitacre
 
On Mon, Apr 3, 2023 at 8:51 PM bike4birds <tmccabe9@…> wrote:
I know I’m late to this party, but I wonder if this could be an immature N. Goshawk? Size is hard to figure in a photo, but Tom said it was quite large. I agree that females are larger than males in most raptors, but I’m wondering if we are all assuming the typical hawk for this area, but it’s the time of year when ANYTHINJG could be coming through, especially given the weather. I have only occasionally seen a N. Goshawk in Boise, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. And, yes, it does have the teardrop markings, but it also appears to have a white eyebrow line.
Just sayin’.
Tom McCabe, Boise
 
From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Louisa Evers
Sent: Monday, April 3, 2023 7:49 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Hawk ID
 
May also be a female as they are bigger than males. 
 
On Mon, Apr 3, 2023 at 18:25 Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@…> wrote:
John and Louisa,
 
Thanks for setting me straight. What threw me was the size of this Coopers.  We would get them in the yard of our house in the North End, but never saw one close to this size. It must be eating well .
 
Tom Soniville
 
From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of John Shortis via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 3, 2023 10:20 AM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Hawk ID
 
Looks like Cooper’s. 
The “teardrop” shaped streaks on this juvenile bird is indicative of Cooper’s.
Also the rounded tail (though not glaringly evident on this bird).
Nice photos!
 
John Shortis.
 
On Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 07:49:07 PM MDT, Louisa Evers <elouisa603@…> wrote: 
 
 
It’s an immature Cooper’s hawk
 
On Sun, Apr 2, 2023 at 7:47 PM Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@…> wrote:
Came across this hawk in the foothills this afternoon.  First thought was a sharp-shinned, but it seems too large. Is this another form of red tail morph?
 
Thanks,
 
Tom Soniville

 
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End 

 

Louisa Evers
Take care of the birds and you take care of the world
 
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End 
Louisa Evers
Take care of the birds and you take care of the world
 
 
 
 

 

Louisa Evers
Take care of the birds and you take care of the world
 
Ken Miracle
chukar28@…
208-570-2780
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
 

 
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End<DSC_8564m1.jpg>

Ken Miracle
chukar28@…
208-570-2780
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5

Re: Hawk ID

Not my photos those are from Scott Urban

On Apr 4, 2023, at 12:23 PM, Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@…> wrote:


Ken,
 
First of all, great pictures. Second, I wish I had you kitchen window. Here is one more picture. It is a terrible view of everything, except for the tail, so maybe that will help. I would say it looks like the tail on Coopers.
 
Thanks to everyone for a lively discussion, it has been very educational.
 
Tom Soniville
 
From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Ken Miracle via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 9:38 AM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Hawk ID
 
I have seen the variety of streaking size and shape but one thing that has been constant i the extension of it into the undertail coverts and I have only seen that on the Northern Goshawk. 
On Apr 4, 2023, at 9:18 AM, scott urban <scotturban610@…> wrote:
 
I agree with Ken and Louisa, it’s good for immature Cooper, not Goshawk. Just for fun, here is a side-by-side picture of each bird, both taken out my kitchen window a few years ago. (Boise Foothills).  I don’t completely trust the streaking pattern on these Coops as a primary  identification: I have pictures of Coopers that show a range from bold teardrops, to thin streaks. I guess for me that feature falls under the category of “usually but not always”. 
 
<image001.jpg>

On Apr 4, 2023, at 7:46 AM, Louisa Evers <elouisa603@…> wrote:


The belly markings are not heavy enough and the wrong shape for an immature goshawk.
 
On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 7:31 AM David Whitacre <davewhitacre@…> wrote:
I think Tom McCabe is right…my immediate take was Goshawk, and I still think so. Tom Soniville says he never saw a Coop close to this size…and everything about this bird looks super robust…plus very heavy breast/belly/flank markings that extend quite far down the belly as is typical for Gos…too bad one can’t see the tail bands better to look for the wavy margins typical of a Goshawk, but still…
Dave Whitacre
 
On Mon, Apr 3, 2023 at 8:51 PM bike4birds <tmccabe9@…> wrote:
I know I’m late to this party, but I wonder if this could be an immature N. Goshawk? Size is hard to figure in a photo, but Tom said it was quite large. I agree that females are larger than males in most raptors, but I’m wondering if we are all assuming the typical hawk for this area, but it’s the time of year when ANYTHINJG could be coming through, especially given the weather. I have only occasionally seen a N. Goshawk in Boise, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. And, yes, it does have the teardrop markings, but it also appears to have a white eyebrow line.
Just sayin’.
Tom McCabe, Boise
 
From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of Louisa Evers
Sent: Monday, April 3, 2023 7:49 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Hawk ID
 
May also be a female as they are bigger than males. 
 
On Mon, Apr 3, 2023 at 18:25 Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@…> wrote:
John and Louisa,
 
Thanks for setting me straight. What threw me was the size of this Coopers.  We would get them in the yard of our house in the North End, but never saw one close to this size. It must be eating well .
 
Tom Soniville
 
From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of John Shortis via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 3, 2023 10:20 AM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Hawk ID
 
Looks like Cooper’s. 
The “teardrop” shaped streaks on this juvenile bird is indicative of Cooper’s.
Also the rounded tail (though not glaringly evident on this bird).
Nice photos!
 
John Shortis.
 
On Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 07:49:07 PM MDT, Louisa Evers <elouisa603@…> wrote: 
 
 
It’s an immature Cooper’s hawk
 
On Sun, Apr 2, 2023 at 7:47 PM Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@…> wrote:
Came across this hawk in the foothills this afternoon.  First thought was a sharp-shinned, but it seems too large. Is this another form of red tail morph?
 
Thanks,
 
Tom Soniville

 
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End 

 

Louisa Evers
Take care of the birds and you take care of the world
 
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End 
Louisa Evers
Take care of the birds and you take care of the world
 
 
 
 

 

Louisa Evers
Take care of the birds and you take care of the world
 
Ken Miracle
chukar28@…
208-570-2780
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
 

 
Tom Soniville
Boise. North End<DSC_8564m1.jpg>

Ken Miracle
chukar28@…
208-570-2780
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5

Re: Hawk ID


Ken,

 

First of all, great pictures. Second, I wish I had you kitchen window. Here is one more picture. It is a terrible view of everything, except for the tail, so maybe that will help. I would say it looks like the tail on Coopers.

 

Thanks to everyone for a lively discussion, it has been very educational.

 

Tom Soniville

 

Re: Hawk ID

I have seen the variety of streaking size and shape but one thing that has been constant i the extension of it into the undertail coverts and I have only seen that on the Northern Goshawk. 

On Apr 4, 2023, at 9:18 AM, scott urban <scotturban610@…> wrote:


I agree with Ken and Louisa, it’s good for immature Cooper, not Goshawk. Just for fun, here is a side-by-side picture of each bird, both taken out my kitchen window a few years ago. (Boise Foothills).  I don’t completely trust the streaking pattern on these Coops as a primary  identification: I have pictures of Coopers that show a range from bold teardrops, to thin streaks. I guess for me that feature falls under the category of “usually but not always”. 
image

On Apr 4, 2023, at 7:46 AM, Louisa Evers <elouisa603@…> wrote:



The belly markings are not heavy enough and the wrong shape for an immature goshawk.

On Tue, Apr 4, 2023 at 7:31 AM David Whitacre <davewhitacre@…> wrote:
I think Tom McCabe is right…my immediate take was Goshawk, and I still think so. Tom Soniville says he never saw a Coop close to this size…and everything about this bird looks super robust…plus very heavy breast/belly/flank markings that extend quite far down the belly as is typical for Gos…too bad one can’t see the tail bands better to look for the wavy margins typical of a Goshawk, but still…

Dave Whitacre

On Mon, Apr 3, 2023 at 8:51 PM bike4birds <tmccabe9@…> wrote:

I know I’m late to this party, but I wonder if this could be an immature N. Goshawk? Size is hard to figure in a photo, but Tom said it was quite large. I agree that females are larger than males in most raptors, but I’m wondering if we
are all assuming the typical hawk for this area, but it’s the time of year when ANYTHINJG could be coming through, especially given the weather. I have only occasionally seen a N. Goshawk in Boise, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. And, yes, it does have the
teardrop markings, but it also appears to have a white eyebrow line.

Just sayin’.

Tom McCabe, Boise

 

From: IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io> On Behalf Of
Louisa Evers
Sent: Monday, April 3, 2023 7:49 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Hawk ID

 

May also be a female as they are bigger than males. 

 

On Mon, Apr 3, 2023 at 18:25 Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@…> wrote:

John and Louisa,

 

Thanks for setting me straight. What threw me was the size of this Coopers.  We would get them in the yard of our house in the North End, but never saw one close to this size. It
must be eating well .

 

Tom Soniville

 

From:
IBLE@groups.io <IBLE@groups.io>
On Behalf Of John Shortis via groups.io
Sent: Monday, April 3, 2023 10:20 AM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Hawk ID

 

Looks like Cooper’s. 

The “teardrop” shaped streaks on this juvenile bird is indicative of Cooper’s.

Also the rounded tail (though not glaringly evident on this bird).

Nice photos!

 

John Shortis.

 

On Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 07:49:07 PM MDT, Louisa Evers <elouisa603@…>
wrote:

 

 

It’s an immature Cooper’s hawk

 

On Sun, Apr 2, 2023 at 7:47 PM Tom & Susan Soniville <tomnsueid@…>
wrote:

Came across this hawk in the foothills this afternoon.  First thought was a sharp-shinned, but it seems too large. Is this
another form of red tail morph?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom Soniville



Tom Soniville
Boise. North End

Louisa Evers

Take care of the birds and you take care of the world


Tom Soniville
Boise. North End

Louisa Evers

Take care of the birds and you take care of the world





Louisa Evers
Take care of the birds and you take care of the world

Ken Miracle
chukar28@…
208-570-2780
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5

Re: Hawk ID

I agree with Ken and Louisa, it’s good for immature Cooper, not Goshawk. Just for fun, here is a side-by-side picture of each bird, both taken out my kitchen window a few years ago. (Boise Foothills).  I don’t completely trust the streaking pattern on these Coops as a primary  identification: I have pictures of Coopers that show a range from bold teardrops, to thin streaks. I guess for me that feature falls under the category of “usually but not always”. 
image