I am new to Birding but saw a bird that I would like to get help in naming. I tried to take a picture of it but I flew away before I had the chance to. I have never seen this type of bird before in my area. I live in the Lower Mainland. It was a bird about the size of a crow, but with black/grey feathers, a short rounded head, little beady black eyes and a small curved black beak. It also had a red underbelly and tail feathers that were cream and black striped. From the red underbelly and tail feathers I had thought it to be some kind of hawk or falcon but was hoping someone would be able to give me some answers as im curious as to what I saw.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Kestrel

^I think it might have been an American Kestrel. I'm not entirely sure, but the above link could give you more clues.

This sounds very much like the description of an adult Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawk.

I'd be inclined to agree here, I'm in east Van and I've seen a few Cooper's hawks in the last month or so, in fairly residential area's, one sitting on a cable just off Commercial Dr last week!