Cooper’s Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Summary
The Cooper’s hawk is a bird of prey that has adapted relatively well to urbanization, and can live in suburbs and even cities as long as there are trees for nesting in and to use as perches while hunting. They specialize in hunting smaller birds and are well-known for cruising near bird feeders looking for a meal. If you’ve ever been watching a bird feeder and noticed all the birds suddenly scatter, it may have been because a Cooper’s hawk flew through. This is why, if you use bird feeders, it’s important to place them near shrubs, brush piles, or other hiding places.
Cooper’s hawks are found throughout the United States, and in Pennsylvania can be found year-round.
Learn more about Cooper’s hawks here.
More Details
FAMILY
Accipitridae (Hawks and Eagles)
IDENTIFICATION
Cooper's Hawks have sharply hooked beaks and long tails and legs. Adults are gray-blue on their backs and top of heads, with narrow reddish bars across their chest and belly, dark bands on the tail, and orange to red eyes. Juveniles have yellow eyes and are brown on their backsides with brown streaks, often tear-drop shaped, on their chest and belly. They look very similar to the closely related Sharp-shinned Hawk.
HABITAT
Forests, open woodlands, and yards and parks
DIET
Cooper's Hawks specialize in hunting other birds, particularly medium-sized birds such as Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, and European Starlings, although they will eat small mammals as well.
Ecosystem Connections
Once highly persecuted because they were seen as “evil” predators of songbirds and gamebirds like quail and grouse, Cooper’s hawks are now seen as an important component of a healthy community of birds. Predators like Cooper’s hawks help keep wild populations of birds and mammals healthy.
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