Cooper's Hawk

About

The Cooper's Hawk is a medium-sized hawk of the genus Accipiter, known for its agile flight and predatory prowess, primarily preying on birds and small mammals. It is a common sight in woodlands and increasingly in suburban areas across North America.

Size & lifespan

Length

35-50 cm (14-20 in)

Wingspan

64-94 cm (25-37 in)

Weight

200-698 g (7.1-24.6 oz); females are significantly larger than males.

Lifespan

Up to 12 years in the wild, typically 8 years.

Diet

Carnivore, primarily preying on medium-sized birds (e.g., American Robins, European Starlings, Mourning Doves) and small mammals (e.g., chipmunks, squirrels).

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Adults have a blue-gray back and cap, with rufous barring on the underparts. The tail is long, rounded, and banded with dark and light stripes, tipped with white. Juveniles are brown on the back and streaked brown on the white underparts, with a yellow eye that gradually changes to orange and then deep red in adults.

Beak shape

Strong, hooked beak, dark gray to black with a yellow cere.

Eye color

Adults have deep red eyes; juveniles have yellow eyes that transition to orange and then red with age.

Leg color

Yellow legs and feet.

Distinguishing features

Relatively large head that projects beyond the wings in flight, rounded tail (compared to the Sharp-shinned Hawk's square or notched tail), and strong sexual dimorphism in size.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles have brown backs, heavily streaked brown underparts, and yellow eyes. Their tail banding is less distinct than adults.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes; plumage differences are primarily age-related.

Sexual dimorphism

Females are noticeably larger than males, often by 20-30% in length and up to 50% in weight. Plumage is similar between sexes.

How to identify

1. 1

   Size and Shape

   Look for a medium-sized hawk with broad, rounded wings and a long, rounded tail. The head often appears large and projects noticeably in front of the wings during flight. Females are considerably larger than males.

2. 2

   Plumage (Adult)

   Adults have a dark blue-gray back and cap, contrasting with a paler nape. The underparts are rufous-barred. The tail has distinct dark and light bands with a white tip.

3. 3

   Plumage (Juvenile)

   Juveniles are brown on the back and heavily streaked brown on the white underparts. Their eyes are yellow, transitioning to red with age.

4. 4

   Flight Pattern

   Observe its characteristic 'flap-flap-glide' flight style. It is very agile, often flying low and weaving through trees. When soaring, the rounded tail is a key identifier.

5. 5

   Head Projection

   In flight, the head of a Cooper's Hawk projects noticeably beyond the leading edge of the wings, giving it a 'cross' or 'T' shape, unlike the smaller head projection of a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

6. 6

   Tail Shape

   The tail is long and distinctly rounded at the tip, especially when fanned. This is a crucial distinction from the square or slightly notched tail of a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

7. 7

   Eye Color

   Adults have striking deep red eyes, while juveniles have yellow eyes that gradually darken to orange and then red as they mature.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Forests, woodlands, riparian areas, suburban and urban environments with mature trees.

Geographic range

Widespread across North America, from southern Canada through the United States and into Mexico.

Elevation range

Sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), depending on local availability of suitable habitat and prey.

Preferred environments

Mature deciduous, coniferous, or mixed forests with dense canopy cover for nesting and hunting, often near open areas for foraging. Increasingly found in suburban and urban parks and backyards.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal.

Feeding habits

A highly agile and stealthy hunter, often ambushing prey from a perch or pursuing it through dense vegetation. Primarily preys on birds, catching them in flight or on the ground. Also takes small mammals, reptiles, and insects.

Social behavior

Generally solitary outside of the breeding season. Monogamous during breeding, with pairs defending a nesting territory.

Flight pattern

Characterized by several rapid wing beats followed by a glide, often flying low to the ground or through dense cover. Soars on thermals during migration. The rounded tail is a key field mark in flight.

Migration pattern

Northern populations are migratory, moving south for the winter. Southern populations are resident year-round. Migrates along broad fronts, often utilizing thermals and ridge lift.

Territoriality

Highly territorial during the breeding season, with both sexes defending the nest site and surrounding foraging areas from other raptors and potential threats.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Typically April to July, with peak nesting activity in May and June.

Nesting habits

Nests are usually built high in a deciduous or coniferous tree, often near the trunk, in a crotch or on a horizontal limb. Nests are constructed of sticks and lined with bark strips, green leaves, and sometimes down. Both sexes contribute to nest building, though the female does most of the incubation.

Clutch size

3-5 eggs.

Egg description

2-6 (typically 3-5) pale bluish-white eggs, sometimes faintly spotted with brown.

Incubation period

30-36 days, primarily by the female.

Fledging period

25-34 days after hatching. Young remain dependent on parents for several weeks after fledging.

Parental care

Female incubates and broods the young, while the male provides most of the food during incubation and early nestling stages. Both parents feed the young after they fledge.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Listen for Alarm Calls. Listen for the alarm calls of smaller birds (e.g., jays, robins, starlings), which often indicate the presence of a Cooper's Hawk.
2. Watch Bird Feeders. Cooper's Hawks frequently hunt around bird feeders, taking advantage of the concentrated prey. Observe feeders from a distance.
3. Scan Tree Canopies. Look for them perched silently within the dense canopy of trees, waiting to ambush prey.
4. Observe Flight Patterns. Learn to recognize their characteristic 'flap-flap-glide' flight and the rounded tail in flight.
5. Migration Hotspots. During migration, watch for them at hawk watch sites, especially along coastlines or mountain ridges.

Similar species

Quick facts

Primary Prey:

Birds (e.g., American Robins, Mourning Doves, European Starlings)

Hunting Style:

Ambush predator, agile pursuit through dense cover

Tail Shape:

Long and rounded

Sexual Size Dimorphism:

Females significantly larger than males

Habitat Adaptability:

Successfully adapted to suburban and urban environments

Fun facts

• Cooper's Hawks are named after William Cooper, an American naturalist who collected the first specimen in 1828.
• They are incredibly agile flyers, capable of navigating dense forest with remarkable speed and precision, even flying upside down to catch prey.
• Their diet consists primarily of birds, making them a significant predator of backyard feeder birds. This has led to their increased presence in suburban areas.
• The change in eye color from yellow in juveniles to deep red in adults is a reliable indicator of age.
• Despite their predatory nature, Cooper's Hawks are generally shy and secretive, often going unnoticed even when present in an area.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Accipitriformes

Family

Accipitridae

Genus

Accipiter

Species

Accipiter cooperii

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