When I first saw this bird farther away, I identified it as a Cooper's Hawk. It was mainly the lack of heavy streaking going far down the underside that argued for Cooper's. Then it came closer and checked out our chicken pen; while it was there I got good looks at it on the ground and on the pen, and it just seemed so big. Also, it had a bit of a pale supercilium. I still thought it was a Cooper's, but I was hoping someone on the list would convince me it was a goshawk (paler goshawks do exist, although I've never seen one this pale on the underside). 

Thank you for all of your responses. I received 10 suggestions that it was a Cooper's Hawk and 3 for Northern Goshawk. I found it interesting, some in favor of Cooper's Hawk argued against Sharp-shinned while others argued against goshawk; I guess I was biased by seeing the bird in real life, it just seemed big. The lack of thick streaking going far down the underside and the short supercilium prevented this from being a goshawk (as did its parents).

The pictures are here, if anyone wants to take another look:
http://blakemathys.com/accipiter.html

Thanks again,

Blake Mathys
http://blakemathys.com



                                                                                                                                                                                                          
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