Bird · GBIF taxon 2480621
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperiiAlso known as Chicken Hawk, Big Blue Darter, Hen Hawk
Cooper's Hawks maneuver through dense forest canopy with remarkable agility, using their long tails as rudders to execute tight turns while chasing songbirds. Adult birds display a dark blue-grey back, rufous barring across the chest, and striking red eyes. Backyard bird feeders frequently attract these stealth hunters, where they utilize low-flying surprise attacks to capture prey.
RaptorPredatoryWoodland
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mourning Dove
- European Starling
- Eastern Chipmunk
Predators
- Great Horned Owl
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Northern Goshawk
ThreatsWindow collisions, organophosphate poisoning, habitat loss
HabitatsWoodlands, forest edges, suburban parks
Life span8–12 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAccipitriformes
- FamilyAccipitridae
- GenusAccipiter
- SpeciesAccipiter cooperii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Raptors have sharp talons and beaks; maintain a respectful distance and avoid approaching nesting trees.
- Why it is dangerous
- Sharp talons and hooked beaks can inflict severe puncture wounds and lacerations if the bird is cornered or handled.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognize by its medium, crow-sized body, banded tail, orange-to-red eyes, and dark slate-colored cap.
- What to do
- Never attempt to grab or rescue a wild hawk without specialized gloves; contact local wildlife rehabilitators.
Responsible observation
- Backyard Viewing: Position bird feeders near dense brush so songbirds can take cover when a hawk approaches.
- Identification: Distinguish from the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk by looking for a rounded tail tip and a darker cap.
- Nesting Etiquette: Keep a generous distance from active nest sites during spring to avoid disturbing breeding pairs.
Prey (c) Paul Danese, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Competitor Buteo_jamaicensis_1.jpg: Alan Vernon derivative work: Berichard (talk) / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Predator "Great Horned Owl, the first I've seen in decent light this year. Didn't want to disturb it for too long so we continued along the trail" by island deborah- is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Sharp-Shinned Hawk (juvenile)" by Becky Matsubara is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Kim, Hyun-tae, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kim, Hyun-tae · cc-by
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