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hexadevil t1_j2miebb wrote

Not a kestrel but a sharp-shinned hawk. Note the rounded wing shoulders and the notched tail. They are also larger than a kestrel. Subtle differences between two very cool birds of prey. Nice photo!

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FGoose OP t1_j2mipm2 wrote

This is 100 percent a male American kestrel. There is a nesting pair at the park year round. The coloration is that of a kestrel as well as the call and the size. I know the lighting in the pic isn’t great and his plumage is puffed out but I assure you that you are incorrect.

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hexadevil t1_j2mjp6f wrote

Fair enough. He looks big in the pic and the notch in the tail could just be the way he’s sitting. The notch is usually the giveaway that it’s the hawk. They are pretty hard to tell apart unless you see the bird in the air.

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FGoose OP t1_j2mkcmx wrote

No worries! Raptor identification can be particularly difficult especially with regional variants, dimorphism, similar plumage, etc. I still have difficulty differentiating sharp shin and Cooper hawks. Just a few weeks ago I mistook a Merlin for a kestrel on a rainy day.

Birding can be a really challenging hobby.

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