This is a young Sharp Shinned Hawk.
About a month ago or so, I started throwing seed off the balcony to attract birds so I could watch them outside my office window. I got some really neat birds to come by: the Black-capped Chickadee, the Oregon Junco, and the ever present English Sparrow.
Unbeknownst to me, however, I also attracted this hawk. I noticed it flying around my deck a lot more lately. Here it is looking through the brush in the hopes of flushing it’s lunch. He had done this a few days ago and I didn’t have my camera ready that time. I was able to get some shots from my office window through some shrubs.
In doing research for this post, I read that these hawks frequent bird feeders. I certainly didn’t expect this. I love birds!
Evidently, I’m providing for two levels in the evolutionary chain: feeding not only birds who eat seed, but the birds who eat the birds who eat seed.
Oh, the irony.