A raptor came the day after Christmas, day 10, at 10:55AM. The wary yellow-eyed bird stayed for a minute and a half, and I got four photos. If it fed, it kept its beak clean.
I thought it was a Cooper's Hawk, but on looking at my Sibley Guide, it seems to be a first-year Northern Goshawk.
The tail bands are not exactly even, as they should be in a Cooper's hawk. The shoulder is spotted, and there's a white brow. All are features of a subadult Northern Goshawk. Plus it seems to be a little large for a Cooper's hawk.
If anyone out there disagrees, or can confirm, let me hear from you. I never argue with birders. (You may need them in the future.)
