I spotted this cool-looking Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) last Monday in a sycamore tree at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Cooper’s Hawks usually have an upright posture and long tails, which help me to distinguish them from the Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks that I see more frequently.
However, Cooper’s Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks are quite similar in appearance, so it is always a bit of a gamble for me to try to make a call. In this case, some more experienced birders in a Facebook forum confirmed my tentative identification.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Well done! Always a confusing ID. I find the squared off tail of the sharpie the best clue. Great photos as usual. Thank you.
Thanks, Ann. Thanks for the tip. The challenge, of course, is getting a good look at the tail. 🙂