Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Pretty sure this is a sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus, just guessing. Another possibility might be a Merlin, though this bird's head is not quite shaped right, nor does it have any 'eyebrow' mark, as a merlin might (but not always) have.
I just don't see either of them often enough to know.
This little (crow size) raptor has been hanging around my little pond for several days, swooping rapidly from under cover likely grabbing little songbirds.
We first noticed the flickers completely disappeared from our backyard, including the mating pair, as well as an unusual disapperance and silence for long stretches of time, from other songbirds.
Perhaps the result of this bird taking the opportunity to ambush feed on the numerous little songbirds that have arrived.
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
Pretty sure this is a sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus, just guessing. Another possibility might be a Merlin, though this bird's head is not quite shaped right, nor does it have any 'eyebrow' mark, as a merlin might (but not always) have.
I just don't see either of them often enough to know.
This little (crow size) raptor has been hanging around my little pond for several days, swooping rapidly from under cover likely grabbing little songbirds.
We first noticed the flickers completely disappeared from our backyard, including the mating pair, as well as an unusual disapperance and silence for long stretches of time, from other songbirds.
Perhaps the result of this bird taking the opportunity to ambush feed on the numerous little songbirds that have arrived.