Comparing Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks

Sharp-shinned HawkCooper’s Hawk
smaller:
shorter length &
wingspan
males 82g-125g
females 144g-208g
Photo courtesy Cascades
Raptor Center
Photo courtesy Cascades
Raptor Center
larger:
longer length &
wingspan
males 297g-380g
females 460g-588g
smaller, rounded
shaped head
Photo by Jean Chamberlain
Photo by Jean Chamberlain
squarer shaped head
uniform dark gray
crown and nape
Photo courtesy Cascades
Raptor Center
Photo by Jean Chamberlain
cap: lighter nape
than crown
(juvenile shown)
yellow supraorbital
ridge skin
Photo by Jean Chamberlain
Photo by Jean Chamberlain
gray supraorbital
ridge skin
long thin leg
Photo courtesy Cascades
Raptor Center
Photo by Jean Chamberlain
leg thicker
white terminal band
on tail is narrow
Photo by Jean Chamberlain

Photo by Jean Chamberlain
Photo by Jean Chamberlain

Photo by Jean Chamberlain
white terminal band
on tail is wide
(may be worn off)
square tail
(some females have
rounded tail)
Photo by Jean Chamberlain
Photo by Jean Chamberlain
rounded tail
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Go to Cooper’s hawks