Glad your mystery was solved Jane! I don't see too many mockingbirds and didn't realize their beaks look like that. Just in case you don't know this.......many times they chatter in the middle of the night! Its so weird to hear a bird talking so much in the darkness! One time I came home from work around 1:30 a.m. and it was totally dark and the mocker was talking up a storm! Happy Birding!

I agree with BN. It is an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk. Although my reasoning slightly differs: the "hooded" appearance of this bird is obvious from this angle (how the dark head continues over the nape of the neck). This is a terrific way to tell the similar Cooper's and Sharp-shinned apart (but only as adults!). A Cooper's has a "capped" look (dark crown of the head and a lighter gray nape of the neck). The shape is also indicative of a Sharp-shinned (squat appearance with a small head and fat chest, lack of a neck, large eyes and small bill). The auriculars (cheeks) actually aren't a reliable way to tell Sharp-shinned from Cooper's, but it is a semi-useful way to tell male from female in both Sharp-shinned and Cooper's. I don't like to use it unless it is really obvious. Kind of iffy. In summary, this is a Sharp-shinned Hawk. It is hunting birds.

I agree with Red-winged Blackbird, and probably an immature male. That bar on the shoulder (coverts?) is not usually found on a female. Nice pictures! Claire

Yes, looks like a Ruby-crowned Kinglet to me.