Cooper's Hawk, male, molting to first basic, Summer 2012
A year-old Cooper's Hawk visited our backyard fountain in the summer of 2012 as it was molting from its juvenile to adult (more precisely, first basic) plumage. The bluish cast to the adult upperparts feathers marks it as a male.
On terminology, I'm going with what I think is still more familiar among birders, treating Basic I as the first after juvenal; it's reflected in the Cooper's Hawk entry in Birds of North America Online:
"Basic I Plumage "Prebasic I molt complete (occasionally a few brown feathers on rump or scapulars retained) at approximately 11–16 mo. "
This is the original H-P system, and I understand the arguments of Howell and others for the "modified H-P" from which your comment issues, but I think the way I put it is still more familiar, and so less likely to confuse.
Guest
12-Mar-2013 00:10
The molt is actually to second basic plumage. First basic is from downy fledgling to juvenile plumage. Great shots!