Sharpies vs. Coopers and Other States of Unknowing

By Brian Kluepfel  

A friend stopped by to bless our new home with a bottle of wine, to commiserate about work, to shoot a few hoops. It was a pleasant, crisp late fall afternoon and we were in sterling company and outdoors.

At the end of his visit, my friend showed me a picture on his phone, and told me his wife had spied it near their home.

“What is it?” was the obvious question.  

Although it was certainly a bird of prey, I couldn’t tell immediately what it was. The picture was a bit blurry, but to be honest, I’m just not as good at identifying birds as many of my birding colleagues. After thinking about it some, I determined that it was likely a Cooper’s or sharp-shinned hawk, species so similar, it is said, that many veteran naturalists have difficulty distinguishing them in the field.  

One thing you should know is that if a raptor is menacing your backyard bird feeder, according to the Audubon website, it’s likely a Cooper or sharpie. Their relatively short wings and rudder-like tails make for frequent feeder forays.  

There are differences in size between these two accipiter species, as well as in the shape of the head and the formation of the tail, but these aren’t always immediately apparent when viewing a bird in the real world (as opposed to your e-bird app or a printed field guide). In the end, I told my friend that the bird was one or the other and left it at that.  

One of the great discoveries (admissions?) in life is the limitations of one’s knowledge. There is just no way to know everything, even about one subject, and most often you can find one, or several, persons who know more about your subject than you do. This isn’t a bad thing. It is a way to make connections and expand our knowledge, and in turn, perhaps make the other person feel good about his or her knowledge.

The open and free exchange of wisdom is what makes the birding community so special. In all my years with Saw Mill River Audubon, many people have contributed to my understanding of birds.  

A couple of people who shared some knowledge, as well as magical birding moments with me, were Joanne McAuley and John Salmon. I knew them from Saw Mill River Audubon events, like the annual picnic or the members’ December photo show, and I even got to travel to Cuba with them in 2016. Sitting on the bus, laughing, celebrating endemic island birds we’d never seen before, those are priceless memories.  

SMRA and the birding community mourns the loss of Joanne and John, who died in 2021. In addition to their zest for nature, they were vibrant Westchester citizens with a range of interests who touched many lives through geocaching, curling, the Ossining Food Pantry and St. Theresa’s Catholic Church. I bid them a hearty adieu.  

We at Saw Mill River Audubon invite you to join us and appreciate the fun and excitement of birding. If you need to stock up your feeders for the winter, pass by our winter seed sale at Pruyn Sanctuary on Route 133 in Chappaqua this Saturday morning, Dec. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It’s held the third Saturday of each month.

Also, a reminder that our beautiful 2022 calendar, chock full of images of local birds, remains on sale. Visit www.sawmillriveraudubon.org/calendar to purchase the calendar.

Brian Kluepfel is a longstanding Saw Mill River Audubon member and encourages you to support efforts in protecting and enjoying local wildlife habitats. Visit SMRA sanctuaries and attend their events online or in person. All are welcome. 

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