Hawk ID ?

[Pintail]

Young goshawk, he's a little on the skinny side.

[LittleM]

I'll go thru all my pics at some point and show a comparison post. 

[Bergenguy]

Thanks for all the replies guys!  I know differentiating between the two can be tough, it wasn't my intent to stir up a temptest in a teapot 

 

As I was going through the various identification elements, I was continuously going back and forth from Sharp Shinned to Coopers.  I think I came to rest on Coopers from the 'rounded' tail shape and white tips.  In case this offers more clues to those in the know, here is another photo of that bird (not a great photo, but shows a little more of the puzzle)

 

[Haskell_Hunter]

Hey Haskell - you posted a pic of a red-tailed hawk...............

 

It was late.  That's my excuse, and I'm sticking with it....  

[_X7]

It's a freaking squirrel killer either way.......They can be tough to identify. I was going with the markings on the chest and the rounded head.

[LPJR]

It was late.  That's my excuse, and I'm sticking with it....  

 

Ummmm......Which home brew was on tap? 

[LPJR]

I respectfully disagree.

One of the easiest way to distinguish between Cooper and Sharpie is by compering the shape of their heads. Cooper has a very large and flat head while Sharpie has a small head with very distinctive high forehead.

 

 

and here are two examples on adults:

 

Cooper with very large and flat head

 

 

Sharpie with much smaller head, almost vertical forehead

 

 

Based upon this info/evidence I will say Cooper.....

[Haskell_Hunter]

Ummmm......Which home brew was on tap? 

 

None.  I haven't had any in quite some time.  However, I plan on doing some catching up this holiday weekend.

 

Plus, I am a computer nerd, what the hell do I know about raptors?