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Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperiiOrder: FALCONIFORMESFamily: Kites, Eagles and Hawks (Accipitridae)
Cooper's Hawk Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Hooked
  • Eye Color: Yellow or light orange in yearlings, shifting progressively to darker shades of orange and red with age.
  • Head Pattern: Eyeline, Capped, Plain
  • Crown Color: Dark Gray
  • Forehead Color: Dark Gray
  • Nape Color: Blue-gray
  • Throat Color: White
  • Cere color: Yellow
Cooper's Hawk Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 36-53 cm (14-21 in)
  • Weight: 349 g (12.3 oz)
  • Size: Size 4. Large (16 - 32 in)
  • Color: White, Brown, Black, Gray, Rufous or Rust
  • Underparts: White with orange barring.
  • Upperparts: Blue-gray
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Barred or banded
  • Breast Pattern: Barred or banded
Cooper's Hawk Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Soars on thermals., Rapid wing beats followed by short glide.
  • Wingspan Range: 69-91 cm (27-36 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Rounded Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Dark bars and white band.
  • Upper Tail: Black and white.
  • Under Tail: Black and white.
  • Leg Color: Yellow
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Family Hawk (Accipitridae)_blue
Species Accipiter cooperii
Length14 - 21 Inches
Wingspan31.5 Inches

Cooper's Hawk

Cooper's Hawk: Medium, agile hawk with dark blue-gray back and white underparts with many fine rufous bars. Cap is darker than upperparts. Eyes are red. The tail is long with thick black-and-white bands. Legs and feet are yellow. Alternates rapid wing beats and short glides, often soars on thermals.

● Song: "kac-kac-kac", "kuck, kuck kuck, kuck"

● Foraging & Feeding: Cooper's Hawk: Feeds mostly on birds, but also takes small mammals. Perches, waits, and quickly swoops down to seize prey; also pursues prey on the ground, half running, and half flying; known for raiding poultry yards.

● Breeding & nesting: Cooper's Hawk: Lays four to five brown spotted, pale blue or green eggs in a stick nest high in a deciduous tree, usually 20 to 60 feet above the ground; returns to the same area to nest year after year. Female incubates eggs for approximately 28 days; male brings her food during incubation.

● Similar species: Cooper's Hawk: Sharp-shinned Hawk has shorter, notched tail, smaller head, and less contrast between back and crown.

Flight Pattern

Soars on thermals., Rapid wing beats followed by short glide.
Cooper's Hawk Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Cooper's Hawk: Breeds from southern Canada to southern U.S. Prefers patchy deciduous and mixed forests.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationUncommon to rare, Stable or increasing in most areas
MigrationSome migrate
Weight12.3 Ounces