Cooper's hawk in flight

[nanila]

I'm no raptor expert so I'm not sure if I've identified this one correctly, but I think this is a Cooper's hawk. Observed hunting over the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge in Washington state, USA, today.

Comments

[kk1raven]

That's not a Cooper's Hawk. I'd call it an immature Northern Harrier. Harriers often hunt over marshes and fields, so you were in the right place for one. The face pattern is another big clue, plus the posture is much better for a harrier than an accipiter, but that's a lot harder to judge if you're not familiar with the species in question.

[nanila]

Oh, very cool! Thank you.