Photos by BarrytheBirder
If you are like me and have both Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks swooping down upon vulnerable Mourning Doves, below the feeders in your winter backyard, you may have wondered if the particular raptors are adults or juveniles.
Generally, if either of these acciptors has orange eyes, such as the Cooper Hawk above (on the left), it is an adult. If either of these two birds has yellow eyes, such as the Sharp-shinned Hawk above (on the right), it is a juvenile.
There is always the exception to the rule, and an occasional Cooper's Hawk may have white eyes, or a juvenile Sharp-shinned may have brown eyes. But generally speaking...
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder
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