Accipiter wings

Accipiter wings are best observed when there is zero texture of greenery, barren mountain side, or the many colors of trees in the fall, in the background. Therefore, the background should be the sky. And the hawk should be, for starters, at somewhat close range. It is best at near overhead, or forty degrees off zenith.

The Cooper’s wings (the outline of the wings) are not as clean- cut as the Sharp-shinned hawk (SSHA), which also means the NG, as the NG is the same shape as the SSHA. The COHA wings appear to be somewhat blurry; That is the trailing edge and the leading edge. Also the tip of the wing is not as well defined as on the NG.

Why this is— I do not know. Here might be the answer. Often the COHA will glide with its wings bowed downward and the primary feathers are spread. Possibly the wing is also bowed along its length. Or the leading and the trailing edge is slightly turned under.

Wing beats: COHA are stiff ; the entire wing moves as a unit. The wings move straight up and down as one unit. The wing beats are not that deep. Also, each wing can act independently of the other wing, which might give the impression that the hawk does, or does not, have control of its wings!

NG wing beats can be very rapid. And deep, and flexible. I say; the wing beats can be as rapid as the SSHA. Since the wings of the male and especially the female are much larger than the SSHA, it appears that the wing beats are not as rapid as the SSHA. NG wing beats can be loose and relaxed, somewhat as a crow or a Red- tailed hawk. NG wing beats can mimic the COHA! In photographs, NG can show wing tips splayed outward with separation of the primary feathers, on the up stroke. N B.