Cooper's Hawk
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An Awesome Bird of Prey
The Cooper's Hawk is often confused with the Sharp-shinned Hawk. They have similar markings but the Sharp-shinned Hawk is smaller and has a squared tail. The Cooper's Hawk's tail is rounded. The tail and the size are the only truly distinctive features between the two.
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.
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.
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
Hawks and Owls of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America
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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.
John James Audubon
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.
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Some of My Favorite Birds of Prey
Majestic EaglesThe Bald Eagle
The Golden Eagle
Hawks
The Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-shouldered Hawk
The Ferruginous Hawk
Falcons The Merlin Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon
Kites
The Swallow-tailed Kite
Hawks From Every Angle
Hawks from Every Angle: How to Identify Raptors In Flight
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Editorial Review (Amazon.com)
Hawks from Every Angle is a major advance in our knowledge of identifying raptors in flight and as such needs to be in the library (and field pack) of every serious raptor biologist, hawk watcher, and birder going afield in North America.
(ald S. Heintzelman,"International Hawkwatcher )
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There is no other guide which even approaches Hawks in Flight for thoroughness, clarity, and utility. Anyone who seriously pursues the sport of hawk watching must have this book
Have you seen any interesting birds lately?
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efriedman
Dec 4, 2011 @ 3:05 am | delete
- When I lived on a canyon in Southern California years ago a Cooper's Hawk would land on the fence looking for quail that had come to pick up seeds on the ground. He knew exactly where the bird feeding station was located.
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Irenemaria
Aug 10, 2011 @ 2:38 pm | delete
- Beautiful and powerful bird
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Pam J.
Oct 20, 2011 @ 2:28 pm | delete
- Just saw a Coopers Hawk, here in Lisle, Il, in the woods here. I live on a lake. He was hunting. So beautiful.
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GrandMemories
Jun 24, 2011 @ 9:45 am | delete
- I shot a Cooper's Hawk (with my camera!) in my woods here. He had a squirrel! Normally they feed on songbirds or smaller prey but this big old dude got a squirrel.
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Ladymermaid
Dec 6, 2010 @ 5:38 pm | delete
- Seasons Greetings and best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year.
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About the Author
The Raptor Almanac
by Scott Weidensaul
The Raptor Almanac: A Comprehensive Guide to Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, and Vultures
Amazon Price: $139.90 (as of 02/14/2012)
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.
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
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