adult male coopers hawk Cooper’s Hawks
                                                           Accipiter cooperii
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How to I.D.
a Cooper's Hawk


Field Marks

Comparison to Similar Species

Cooper's vs Sharp-Shinned Hawks









The Saga of
Rufous Hawk


Cooper's hawks in the neighborhood -- a diary written in story form
for children of all ages



Cooper's Hawk WebCam
at Saskatchewan Science Center
(Currently Off-Line)

Raptor Central Forum
Cooper's Hawk Thread

Info From The Experts
Cornell's All About Birds
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Audubon
Hawkwatch International
Hawk Mountain


ADULT MALE

ADULT FEMALE

JUVENILE
A Life History
Table of Contents
Introduction
Description
History
Range
Hunting and Diet
Vocalization
Behavior
Breeding
Tracking
Falconry
Acknowledgements


NESTLINGS

Introduction

The Cooper’s hawk is known by many names: “blue darter,” “lynx of the bird world,” “flying cross.” Some even call him a “chicken hawk.” After all, he is an accipiter, a raptor that eats other birds.

There are only three species of the genus Accipiter in North America: the sharp-shinned hawk (A. striatus), the Cooper’s hawk (A. cooperii), and the northern goshawk (A. gentilis). The sharp-shinned, or “sharpie,” is the smallest, about the size of a blue jay. The Cooper’s hawk is larger, about crow size. And the northern goshawk is the largest of the North American accipiters. All three species are characterized by very long tails; relatively short, rounded wings; and a decided preference for avian prey. Accipiters prefer a habitat populated by trees, where they have the greatest success hunting and capturing their prey.

Recent observations suggest that the traditionally woodland Cooper’s hawk is adapting quite well to a changing environment. In many areas, the Cooper’s hawk is “coming to the city,” where tree-lined urban greenbelts, parks, and bird feeders provide a productive habitat.

Next Chapter: Description