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Don't Cross Me!
Description
The Cooper's Hawk is a medium-sized hawk fifteen to nineteen inches in length with a wingspan of two to three feet. Its short wings and long tail are particularity well suited for its forest dwelling habitat. The outer feathers on its tail are shorter giving it a round-tailed appearance. Its back, wings, and tail are a bluish gray. It has a broad white terminal band on its tail and its belly is white with rust colored barring.The Cooper's Hawk is often confused with the Sharp-shinned Hawk. Their coloring and markings are similar but the Sharp-shinned Hawk is smaller and has a squared off tail rather than a rounded one.
The Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Intense Stare
Undercover
cooper's hawk
Range and Habitat
The Cooper's Hawk inhabits most of the United States, Mexico and southern Canada. Except for those residing in the southern portion of their range, the Cooper's Hawk is a migratory bird. They inhabit the forests, preferring the cover of trees to hunt and breed. The Cooper's Hawk
Mating and Nesting
The Cooper's Hawk return to the same breeding area year after year, but they build a new nest in a new site every year. The mated pair will stay together for the season but often change mates the following year.They build a stick nest high in the trees, usually in the crotch of a deciduous tree. The clutch is usually two to five eggs and are incubated for 30 to 36 days. The hatchings are small and covered with white down. The female broods while her mate hunts. The hatchings fledge around four weeks of age but return to the nest to be fed for another four weeks. The young reach breeding age the following year.
The Cooper's Hawk is often referred to as The Chicken Hawk. He's not a popular bird with the farmers.
Hawks and Owls of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America
Hawks and Owls of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America
Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 07/10/2009)
A nice handy guide to hawks and owls, especially for beginners and less experienced birders... Robert E. Hoopes, Wildlife Activist 06/2004
An excellent identification guide... the photos are well chosen... the text is clear and concise. Jim Williams, Minneapolis Star Tribune 08/18/2004
Diet
The Cooper's Hawk is known as the predator of birds. They prey on medium-sized birds such as starlings, robins, blackbirds, and meadowlarks. They will also hunt mammals such as squirrels and chipmunks. Lizards, amphibians and large insects are also a part of their diet. 
The Cooper's Hawk and The Sharp-shinned Hawk
Voice
They are noisy during mating, often calling out in a rapid kek, kek, kek, but fairly quiet the rest of the time. The Raptor Almanac
The Raptor Almanac: A Comprehensive Guide to Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, and Vultures
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Amazon.com Review
Few people, writes Scott Weidensaul, are apathetic toward raptors. Once you've seen a hawk or a falcon or an eagle in action, you're likely to take an interest in how these great birds of prey make their homes in the world. The Weidensaul's encyclopedic guidebook to the world's principal raptor species, well illustrated with photographs, maps, and charts and full of detailed information, is an ideal companion
John James Audubon
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John James Audubon (1785-1851)
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Since his death in 1851 John James Audubon's name has become synonymous with wildlife conservation and natural history. Audubon had a talent for drawing and an interest in birds. He spent thirty-five years wandering around his adopted country capturi...
Conservation Status
The Cooper's Hawk was hunted extensively by farmers tired of the raids on their hen houses. The persecution did not have a lasting affect on their numbers. The number of Cooper's Hawks in existence is stable. Selecting a Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars
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Selecting a Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars
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When I look out my window and watch the birds flutter around the birdfeeder, I really don't need a pair of binoculars or a scope to enjoy the sight. I frequently stop by the window and watch the birds for a minute or two between household tasks. (Occ...
Other Hawks by Lizzy
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The Red-tailed Hawk
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The Red-tailed Hawk is the most common hawk in North America. It soars over the open country in search of its prey or perches in a tree at the edge of a field or meadow. With its sharp eyes peeled, it watches for the slightest movement signaling the...
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The Northern Harrier
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The Northern Harrier is one of the most widespread and easily recognized raptors in North America. It has an owl-like facial disc which allows it to hunt by sound as well as sight. It has been known to locate its prey by sound alone.
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Swainson's Hawk
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The Swainson's Hawk can eat an average of 100 grasshoppers a day giving it the nickname 'Grasshopper Hawk'. It is a beautiful bird to watch as it soars across the sky.
Some of My Favorite Birds of Prey
Have you seen any interesting birds lately?
gbenton789 wrote...
Great job. Thanks, I was wanting to look up about different hawks. Thanks.
Posted February 15, 2009
AndyPo wrote...
Another excellent lens. You have such a wonderful variety of hawks and other birds in America.
Posted February 04, 2009
naturegirl7 wrote...
Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens links to the appropriate plexos and vote for them.
Posted October 25, 2008
Tipi wrote...
Eliabeth, a great web-page on hawks. You've got scoop on them. Very enjoyable! *****
Posted October 06, 2008
OhMe wrote...
Thank you for this great information. I always learn something new when I read one of your beautiful lenses. 5*
Posted September 21, 2008
About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen, aka Lizzy Jean, has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,690 lenses, favorited 454, and has created 169 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
101 Ways to Help Birds
101 Ways to Help Birds
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 07/10/2009)
101 Ways to Help Birds offers 101 ways for individuals to help birds and bird populations as a whole, and it explains how these actions make a difference. Any bird lover knows that birds and animals alike need our help. Without it, we will lose more and we've lost enough as it is.
Resources used to construct this page.
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Carolina Raptor Center: Cooper's Hawk
University of Minnesota Raptor Center: The Cooper's Hawk
Hawk Conservancy Trust: Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk, The Peregrine Fund
by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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