Astur cooperii
The Cooper's Hawk (*Astur cooperii*) is a quintessential North American woodland raptor, a medium-sized bird of prey renowned for its remarkable agility in dense cover. Adults exhibit striking bluish-gray upperparts, a rusty-barred chest and belly, and a distinctive dark cap contrasting with a paler nape. Juveniles are streaky brown above with heavily streaked white underparts and yellow eyes, which gradually transition to red in adulthood. With a body length ranging from 35-50 cm (14-20 inch...
Cooper's Hawks inhabit a variety of forested and semi-open woodlands, preferring deciduous, mixed, or coniferous forests with dense canopy for nesting and hunting, and are increasingly found in suburban and urban areas. They can be found from sea level up to moderate mountain elevations, typicall...
Cooper's Hawks primarily prey on medium-sized birds such as American Robins, Mourning Doves, and European Starlings, but also consume small mammals like chipmunks and squirrels, ambushing them from concealed perches or through rapid pursuit.
As diurnal hunters, Cooper's Hawks are active from dawn to dusk, often perching inconspicuously within dense canopy cover when not hunting or migrating. Their primary foraging strategy involves surprise attacks, often launching from a concealed perch to quickly pursue prey through cluttered envir...
The Cooper's Hawk boasts a wide breeding range across temperate North America, extending from southern Canada throughout the contiguous United States and into northern Mexico. During the non-breeding season, northern populations migrate south, expanding the species' wintering range across the sou...
Least Concern
- Known as the "flying skillet" due to their rounded wings and long tail which, when spread, can resemble a skillet or frying pan. - Cooper's Hawks can turn their heads nearly 180 degrees to scan for prey or predators without moving their bodies. - They are remarkably intelligent, sometimes pluck...