A sparrow hawk I'd say, therefore a hawk & not an eagle.

Thanks Feverfew. Sparrows seem to be what he's after.

Would agree - far to small for an eagle... We have sparrow hawk that flies trough the green on a regular basis tying to grab the passerines.

Up close and personal, which we get with them in our garden the 'evil' looking yellow eye is a dead give-a-way! they have as much right to be here as any other bird, or ourselves for that matter!

The sparrow population here would get totally out of control. Sometimes I'll have hundreds of sparrows in my garden all at once.

I while hiking a few years back came upon a falconer who had just rescued an injured red tailed hawk. This bird, I noticed, had blue eyes and I asked him if this was unusual. He told me not at all the reason being that most juvenile birds of prey have blue or blue-grey eyes which turn color as they mature. He said there is a reason for this in that the blue color turns off the adults territorial and or food attack instinct which helps in the young bird in reaching maturity. Just thought that you might like to know that bit of information I picked up from a source other than the web or from reading a book.

Bathgate the sparrow populate would't get out of control... it need enough food to survive all birds and animals regulate themselves, it is only humanity that keeps on producing more and more of its kind that can't be supported by the planet!

Not an eagle nor a Sparrowhawk. Your description of it's activities would fit a Sparrowhawk in the Uk but the picture does not fit. It is one one of your USA hawks/falcons but I dobn't know which it would be.

Do you have kestrels out there?

I see the occasional Red Tail Hawk. They are quite cozy roosting in the tall builings & bridge towers with an endless supply of rodents and pigeons to feed on. Have not seen any other raptors around here.

Maybe a juvenile or near adult Goshawk?

I think he is a juvenile and just getting his "big boy" feathers.

Thanks Losestrife2: This guy was gawking at me with big golden eyes. He took a couple sparrows from my feeder, but I don't feel I should interfere with nature. He dispatches them quickly and stealthily.

In order to stay alive most raptors have to make one kill a day. The most beautiful thing that I have ever seen was a hawk take a fish from a beaver pond. The sun was low in in evening and cast a red glow and when that hawk hit the water to grab that fish and then take off with it, the water spray sparkled like diamonds and rubies ..it was one of the truly golden moments of my life.

Thanks for sharing that Loosestrife. Wouldn't it be nice to do a "Share your golden moment" question or blog in the New Yea?

But the camera is never to hand when something wonderful needs to be recorded , is it Loosestrife ?
You described it beautifully though .
I like your suggestion , Steragram .
I have made one New Year resolution ! To make time again for GOY , I really miss al the lovely folk .

thanks everybody for your comments. I think this a juvenile Cooper's Hawk. He's going to be stunning when he matures.

I've just gone onto Ispyabird, our sister site and saw your question there and someone else there thought it was a kestrel too.

They do look similar.

I see i.t named as Coopers Hawk on I Spy Birds site

Love the idea of a "golden moments" blog Steragram . . . hope you do it!

My apologies Bathgate for being so quick to name it as a sparrow hawk. I didn't know you were not in the UK.
Thankyou Bulbaholic for putting us on to the right ID. Was puzzled too about all your hundreds of sparrows, whatever sort of sparrows they are. House sparrows are in decline in the uk, tho' still found around farm & stable buildings.

No need to apologize Feverfew. I've never seen this bird before. I thought it was an eagle at first, from watching Wild Kingdom on TV. Shows how much I knew, lol. Thanks for your participation. cheers.