Cooper’s hawks are a medium-sized bird of prey that can be found across North America. They are skilled hunters that specialize in catching other birds in flight. Cooper’s hawks have a number of interesting facts and features that make them fascinating to learn about.
What do Cooper’s hawks look like?
Cooper’s hawks adults have striking features that help them blend into their forest environment. Their backs are blue-gray and their undersides are light with reddish barring. They have a black cap on top of their head. Their eyes are red and they have a distinctive narrow white eyebrow stripe.
Young Cooper’s hawks are brown above and pale below with brown streaks until they mature and gain their adult plumage by 1-2 years old.
Cooper’s hawks are medium-sized raptors. They measure between 14-20 inches in length with a wingspan of 24-35 inches. Females tend to be larger than males. Cooper’s hawks weigh around 1 pound on average.
Where do Cooper’s hawks live?
Cooper’s hawks are found across most of North America. Their breeding range stretches from southern Canada through the United States into Mexico. They can be found as far south as Costa Rica.
Cooper’s hawks inhabit forests and woodlands, especially deciduous or mixed forests. They nest in trees and hunt amongst the forest canopy. They sometimes come into urban and suburban areas with enough trees to construct nests and hunt.
What do Cooper’s hawks eat?
Cooper’s hawks are bird specialists. They prey almost exclusively on other birds. Their diet typically consists of:
- Doves
- Pigeons
- Jays
- Robins
- Woodpeckers
- Starlings
- Sparrows
- Blackbirds
They occasionally eat small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects as well. Cooper’s hawks hunt from cover in trees then burst out and pursue prey. They capture other birds in mid-air with their sharp talons.
How do Cooper’s hawks hunt?
Cooper’s hawks have specialized adaptations for hunting birds on the wing:
- Short broad wings allow for quick burst of speed
- Long tail provides agility and balance in flight
- Sharp rear talons are effective at capturing prey mid-air
- Keen binocular vision to accurately target prey
They often perch low, hidden by cover, and ambush birds as they fly past. During the breeding season, they frequently hunt together, with one hawk flushing prey into the path of its mate.
How do Cooper’s hawks reproduce?
Cooper’s hawks nest in trees, often conifers. They build a stick nest lined with bark strips and green sprigs 20-50 feet above ground. The female lays 3-6 pale bluish eggs that hatch in 30-36 days. The chicks fledge the nest at around 4-5 weeks old but remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks.
Cooper’s hawks are monogamous. Pairs mate for life and return to the same nesting territory each breeding season. The male passes prey to the female who does most of the incubating. Both parents feed the young.
What is the Cooper’s hawk’s conservation status?
Cooper’s hawk populations declined in the mid 1900’s due to pesticide use and habitat loss. With the banning of DDT and reforestation efforts, their numbers have rebounded. They are now common over much of their range. The Cooper’s hawk is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.
Cooper’s hawk facts
Here are some key facts about Cooper’s hawks:
| Category | Facts |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Accipiter cooperii |
| Average Length | 14-20 inches |
| Wingspan | 24-35 inches |
| Weight | Around 1 pound |
| Diet | Mainly birds |
| Habitat | Forests and woodlands |
| Range | North America |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Why are Cooper’s hawks important?
Although they sometimes prey on songbirds, Cooper’s hawks play an important role in the ecosystem. They help regulate populations of birds that may become overabundant. Their predation shapes avian community structures across North America.
Cooper’s hawks are also an indicator species of forest health. Their numbers and breeding success reflect the state of the habitat they occupy. Declines can signal threats to woodland environments.
Fun facts about Cooper’s hawks
- Cooper’s hawks are sometimes called “chicken hawks” for their reputation of preying on backyard poultry.
- The oldest known wild Cooper’s hawk was over 12 years old.
- Cooper’s hawk’s scientific name Accipiter cooperii is named after William Cooper, a New York naturalist who studied and described the species.
- Watching Cooper’s hawks gracefully hunting in flight is a favorite activity of bird enthusiasts.
- Cooper’s hawks sometimes nest in unusual sites like on power towers and skyscraper ledges in cities.
Conclusion
In summary, Cooper’s hawks are medium-sized raptors adapted for swift, agile flights and catching bird prey on the wing. They are skilled hunters of the forest canopy throughout North America. Their unique features and ecology make them fascinating birds for kids to learn about.
