Broad-winged Hawk in Canon City

Though no longer terribly rare, Broad-winged Hawk sightings are pretty unusual Colorado. Yesterday I saw the one in these pics along the Canon City Riverwalk. I haven't seen a lot of Broad-winged Hawks but I believe this is a first year bird. However, I cannot tell if it has attained Basic I plumage or if it's still in the transition from juvenal plumage. So I am posting both pics hoping that someone more familiar with the plumage phases for this species will clarify as I would like to learn more. SeEtta

The big chase--Cooper's Hawk after a Broad-winged

Though the sought-after Painted Redstart was not seen today in Canon City, several other birds gave those who drove over a hundred miles a nice show. One of those was a Broad-winged Hawk being chased by a Cooper's Hawk. This had also happened yesterday, but today the Cooper's chased the Broad-winged directly over our heads and only about 20-25 feet above us--fantastic show.

The Broad-winged perched in a tree about 100 feet away and I got its photo there that is in the lower pic (double-click on this photo to enlarge it for more detail). The Cooper's Hawk also landed in that same tree though on the other side and not very visible to us. After several minutes of respite, the Broad-winged Hawk, without any notice so I could get prepared to take it's picture, took off again with the Cooper's behind it. I got the photo above of the Broad-winged in flight (with a little blur as it moved so quickly but I think it's not bad since my digital camera is not an SLR) but couldn't get a photo of the Cooper's. A Cooper's Hawk has nested for several years in this area and I have seen one around this spring so it may be planning to nest again so it wouldn't want another big raptor around.
SeEtta

Broad-winged Hawk visiting Canon City

Broad-winged Hawks tend to be eastern hawks but they do come into Colorado as uncommon vagrants. Today one was perching the bluff canopy on the Canon City Riverwalk and it was seen by another local birder, Rich, who showed it to me.

Since the hawk was several hundred feet away, this photo isn't great. And, of course, the hawk laid it's wing tips over its' tail so the diagnostic tail bands are not visible and perched with its' back to us so reddish chest was only barely visible. Wouldn't you know. It does show the dark back without the scapular lightness that is indicative of Red-tailed Hawks.

I could see the tail bands when the bird flew, and it gave a good show by flying directly over us.
SeEtta