Hawk-07-20-08
I consulted with a biologist at Oxy, John Hafner, and he wrote: ” The bird is a Cooper’s hawk in juvenal plumage. The plumage of the first-year birds is streaked vertically (dark brown on white) and, because some birds (usually females) breed when they are one year old (and before their first molt during the summer), ornithologists made of this word “juvenal” instead of the word “juvenile” to more accurately describe the plumage. Anyway, this bird is probably a young of the year but, if the bird hangs around, look to see if there are missing tail feathers or wing feathers that would indicate that the bird is entering its first molt. Cooper’s hawks in the basic plumage (what folks used to call the “adult” plumage) have chests that are barred horizontally and are reddish brown in color. Soon after the first year, the iris also changes from yellow to orange-colored eyes.”
Jul 20, 2008
Photos: 2
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