The Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized hawk that is found throughout most of North America. It is known for its swift flying skills and ability to maneuver through dense forests in pursuit of prey. Cooper’s hawks make a variety of vocalizations, with some of the most distinctive being alarm calls, begging calls of nestlings, and courtship calls between mates.
Alarm Calls
When alarmed or agitated, Cooper’s hawks make a loud “kak-kak-kak” sound. This call is often given when a hawk is defending its nest from potential predators. The alarm calls serve to notify other hawks in the area that a threat is present. It also helps scare away potential predators or notify them that the hawk is prepared to defend itself if necessary. The loud, abrupt noise carries well through the forest environment.
Here are some key facts about the Cooper’s hawk alarm call:
- Call consists of a series of loud “kak” notes
- Made when hawk is distressed or alarmed
- Serves to notify other hawks of danger
- Helps deter potential predators
- Carries well through forest habitat
When making the alarm call, the hawk will often pump its tail and keep its wings partly spread. This helps exaggerate the hawk’s size and shows it is ready to defend itself. The alarm kakking is often made right before or during an aggressive swoop toward an intruder.
Begging Calls of Nestlings
Young Cooper’s hawks still in the nest make loud, raspy calls to beg for food from the parents. These begging calls start early in the nestling phase and become louder and more incessant as the nestlings grow. The calls help guide the parents back to the nest when they return with food. They also stimulate the adults to deliver food.
Here are some key details on the begging calls of young Cooper’s hawks:
- Made by nestlings seeking food from parents
- Loud, raspy, and repetitive
- Starts early in nesting cycle
- Increases in frequency as nestlings grow
- Stimulates parents to deliver food
- Guides parents back to nest
The begging calls start as soft cheeping early in the nesting stage but quickly increase in volume and intensity. Nestlings may call almost continuously when very hungry. As the nestlings near fledging, their voices become hoarse from excessive begging. The calls fade once the young are able to leave the nest and hunt on their own.
Courtship Calls
During the breeding season, Cooper’s hawks make distinct calls to communicate with their mate. These vocalizations help in strengthening the pair bond and coordinating breeding activities like nest building and copulation. Some characteristic Cooper’s hawk courtship calls include:
- Chittering: Rapid series of “kuk-kuk-kuk” notes made by the male during aerial displays and while presenting prey to the female.
- Whining: High-pitched whine made by female often when begging for food from the male.
- Barking: Harsh “wik-wik-wik” vocalization made by female during copulation.
In addition to vocalizations, Cooper’s hawks communicate through actions like aerial acrobatics, dangling legs, and wing drooping. Calling and displaying peaks early in the breeding season and tapers off as eggs are laid and incubated. But some courtship behaviors may continue all the way until the young fledge in late spring/early summer.
Here are some key points on Cooper’s hawk courtship vocalizations:
- Used to communicate between mates
- Includes chittering, whining, and barking
- Most frequent early in breeding season
- Enhances pair bond
- Coordinates breeding activities
- Accompanied by visual displays
Other Cooper’s Hawk Vocalizations
In addition to the three main call types covered, Cooper’s hawks have some other vocalizations that are less frequently heard:
- Nest exchange call: Made by brooding hawk when its mate arrives to take over nest duties. Sounds like a soft, breathy “kip.”
- Food beg: Short “kip” notes made by female soliciting food from the male.
- Whimper call: Plaintive “pee-pee-pee” notes uttered by adults in distress.
- Warning screams: Loud, piercing screams made when defending the nest. Used most often by females.
So in summary, Cooper’s hawks make a variety of vocalizations related to alarm, begging, courtship, and other communication. Some of the most frequent and recognizable calls are the alarm “kakking,” the begging raspy cries of nestlings, and the chittering and whining exchanged between mates. These varied vocalizations reflect the wide range of situations and needs that Cooper’s hawks encounter in their daily lives.
How Cooper’s Hawk Calls Can Vary
While Cooper’s hawk vocalizations have characteristic sounds, there can be some variation between individuals and circumstances. Here are some factors that can affect Cooper’s hawk calls:
- Age – Nestling begging is higher-pitched than adult alarm calls
- Sex – Females tend to have higher-pitched alarm calls
- Geography – Slight regional dialects may exist
- Context – Alarm calls are louder when more alarmed
- Time of Year – Most vocal during breeding season
- Individual – Each hawk may have unique vocal styles
So while the general sound and purpose of Cooper’s hawk vocalizations are consistent, calls can vary in pitch, loudness, urgency, and other qualities based on the hawk making the call and the context. Becoming familiar with the range of a hawk’s vocalizations takes time observing known individuals.
Purpose and Use of Cooper’s Hawk Vocalizations
Understanding why Cooper’s hawks make such a wide variety of vocalizations provides insight into their communication abilities and social interactions. Here are some of the main purposes and uses of Cooper’s hawk calls:
- Defend territory and nest – Alarm calls warn off intruders
- Coordinate breeding – Courtship vocalizations aid pair bonding and mating
- Locate nestlings – Begging guides parents to the nest
- Stimulate feeding – Loud begging induces parents to feed nestlings
- Maintain social bonds – Communication reinforces bonds between mates
- Convey threats – Screams and alarm calls signal willingness to attack
Cooper’s hawks live solitary lives outside of the breeding season. Vocalizations become especially important for social interactions with their mate and offspring during breeding. Communicating using calls allows Cooper’s hawks to coordinate essential activities even when visual contact isn’t possible in dense habitat.
Identifying Cooper’s Hawks by Sound
Many birds aren’t regularly seen but can be identified by sound. Listening for key characteristics of Cooper’s hawk vocalizations can help identify them when they’re out of view:
- Loud, rapid kak-kak-kak alarm calls
- Harsh, raspy begging calls of nestlings
- High-pitched whining or chittering sounds
- Piercing warning screams
The alarm call is the most distinctive Cooper’s hawk vocalization and the one most likely to be heard. However, also listening for food begging calls may reveal an active Cooper’s hawk nest. Getting to know the typical vocalizations made by birds in your area will help identify those heard but not seen.
How to Attract Cooper’s Hawks
While Cooper’s hawks don’t typically make loud vocalizations outside of the breeding season, you may be able to attract them by understanding their habitat needs:
- Have a mix of forest and open habitat
- Leave dead snags standing for perches
- Allow leaf litter to accumulate on forest floor
- Preserve areas of dense underbrush
- Limit pesticide use if possible
- Put up nest boxes suitable for Cooper’s hawks
Providing optimal habitat will increase the chances of having Cooper’s hawks frequent your property. And if they do nest on your land, you’re likely to hear begging calls as the young grow. So enhancing habitat can allow you to hear more Cooper’s hawk vocalizations!
Conclusion
The Cooper’s hawk is a vocal raptor, using a variety of calls in many social interactions and circumstances. alarm calls, begging calls of the young, and courtship vocalizations between mates are all common vocalizations. While the general characteristics of each call are consistent, factors like age, sex, context, and individual can create variation. Understanding the typical sounds and uses of Cooper’s hawk vocalizations provides insight into their behavior and biology while also allowing you to identify them just by sound.
