COOPER’S HAWK
Accipiter cooperii
Notable Physical Characteristics - Size - Habitat - Nesting - Hunting
Behavior - Call - Additional Information - Resources
Notable Physical Characteristics
Distinct dark crown
Grayish back plumage, tawny chest
Adults have orange irises
Long, rounded tail with dark bands and a white tip
Medium sized accipiter
Wingspan: 31”
Length: 16.5”
Weight: 1 lb
(Females are larger than males)
Ranges across United States, Southern Canada, and Mexico
Woodland habitats
Male builds a nest platform of twigs cradled between branch and tree trunk
Usually lay 3-5 eggs
5 week incubation period
Fledge in 5 weeks
Young become fully independent after 8 weeks, sexually mature at 2 years
Diet consists mostly of birds and mammals
Often sit on posts on branches to locate prey, pouncing as the animal looks away
Will pursue prey on the ground, running/flying
Cache uneaten prey on horizontal branches
Winters as far south as Costa Rica
Highly territorial
Nasal barking: pek pek
Longer notes: keeeee; whaaaaa
Known to be a threat to domestic poultry