Cooper's Hawk

Recently we had a young Cooper's Hawk stop at a "T" pole near the platform. For those new to raptor identification we were able to identify this birds age based on its plumage and eye color as well. Notice the overall two tone color scheme of this bird. It is brown and white, with brown streaking on the breast. An adult bird is characterized by an orange breast with horizontal barring. The backside of an adult bird is also a more of a slate color than a brown as in the juvenile. Also notice the color of this birds eye. The iris is yellow whereas in an adult bird, the iris is typically orange or red. Although there is not much for scale in this photo, the Cooper's is bigger than its cousin the Sharp-shinned Hawk. This can also be an indicator when distinguishing between the two.