Seeing a small hawk or falcon in and around the places where we travel is not an unusual experience, however it can be infrequent. I've spotted two or three this month and also noticed that this one has been banded for tracking. It's markings are not as distinct as you usually see on a Kestrel, it could be a Merlin or a juvenile of either one. Feedback would be appreciated. After many reponses including hge54 most birders agree it is a Coopers Hawk. Cooper's Hawk facts: Among the bird world’s most skilful flyers, Cooper’s Hawks are common woodland hawks that tear through cluttered tree canopies in high speed pursuit of other birds and dashing through vegetation to catch birds is a dangerous lifestyle. In a study of more than 300 Cooper’s Hawk skeletons, 23 percent showed old, healed-over fractures in the bones of the chest, especially of the furcula, or wishbone. ~ All About Birds

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