| Cooper's Hawk | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Genus: | Accipiter |
| Species: | Accipiter cooperii |
Cooper's Hawk is a rather uncommon bird of prey native to the North American continent.
Description[]
Cooper's Hawk is a medium-sized bird. It is about 40-50 cm long and has a wingspan of 60-90 cm. The male is much smaller than the female. Adults have red eyes, a black cap, blueish-gray upperparts with darker primary remiges and creamy-white underparts barred with reddish. The legs are yellow; the bill is also yellow with a black tip. The tail is long and squared, while the wings are short, broad and rounded. Immatures are brown above and white below, with fine streaks on the chest. Compared to the similar Sharp-shinned Hawk, Copper's Hawk is larger, with proportionately larger head, longer tail and shorter wings.
Behavior[]
Thanks to its short, rounded wings and long tail, this hawk can fly nimbly and quickly through the woods to chase birds. It is known to ambush prey and even run on the ground in pursuit. Unlike the Sharp-shinned Hawk, it often perches on telephone poles. Cooper's Hawk is preyed on by larger raptors, like Peregrine Falcons, Golden Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawks, Goshawks and some owl species.
Feeding[]
Like other raptors in the genus accipiter, Cooper's Hawk feeds mainly on small birds, such as meadowlarks, sparrows, thrushes, jays, grosbeaks, pigeons and finches. It occasionally takes small mammals as well.
Breeding[]
Both parents take part in nest construction, incubation and chick rearing. The nest is a large platform made of sticks and located high in a tree. The clutch consists of 2-4 greenish eggs with brown markings, which hatch in 32-36 days. The young fledge about a month after hatching. Each couple raises one single brood per year.
Distribution and habitat[]
Cooper's Hawk is found in all of the contiguous United States and parts of southern Canada, and is a year-round resident or short-distance migrant throughout most of its range. It winters in northern Mexico, travelling alone or in groups of two or three. Cooper's Hawk is naturally found in deciduous woodland and streamside groves, but it possible to spot this hawk in suburban areas, especially in gardens, where it hunts birds attending the feeders.