>> Cooper’s hawks belong to a family of hawks known as Accipiters (includes hawks with medium-sized, short winged, and long legged appearance). These hawks prey mostly on other birds.
>> Their long tails act as rudders that allow them to be extremely maneuverable in wooded areas as they hunt birds on the wing.
>> This raptor makes a long series of harsh and rapid kak, kak, kak, kaks.
>> The outer tail feathers are shorter than the rest of the tail feathers, giving the tail a rounded appearance, which — apart from size — is the only way to distinguish this bird from the sharp-shinned hawk.
>> While many people know of the decline of the peregrine falcon due to pesticides, few are aware that the once-common Cooper’s hawk has suffered a similar fate and is now gone from large areas of the eastern deciduous forest.
>> The eyes of this hawk, like most predatory birds, face forward, giving it good depth perception for hunting and catching prey while flying at high speeds.
>> When hunting, the Cooper’s hawk usually perches and watches for its prey. It waits until its quarry is looking away, then quickly swoops down and seizes it.
>> Bobwhites, starlings, blackbirds, chipmunks and squirrels are common prey for this hunter.
>> When Cooper’s hawks are observed in flight, the male raises his wings high above the back and flies in a wide arc with slow, rhythmic flapping somewhat like that of a nighthawk.
>> The Cooper’s hawk can be a problem around poultry farms where they may occasionally capture unwary chickens. However, by preying on wild birds and rodents, they help keep populations of wild birds and rodents in check.
>> It was named by Charles Bonaparte in 1828 after William Cooper, who collected the specimens that were used to describe the species.
>> The Cooper’s hawk is from 14 to 21 inches long, with a wingspan of from 27 to 36 inches.
