Species · GBIF taxon 2480621
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperiiAlso known as Chicken Hawk, Swift Hawk, Big Blue Darter
Cooper's Hawks are master aerial acrobats of the forest, built for high-speed chases through dense branches to capture medium-sized birds. These stealthy raptors have adapted remarkably well to suburban neighborhoods, where backyard bird feeders provide a reliable source of prey. During the breeding season, pairs build bulky stick nests high in leafy trees, defending their territory with nasal, cackling alarm calls.
PredatoryUrban-AdaptedDiurnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mourning Dove
- European Starling
- Eastern Gray Squirrel
Predators
- Great Horned Owl
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Northern Goshawk
ThreatsCollisions with windows and vehicles, secondary rodenticide poisoning, and habitat fragmentation.
HabitatsDeciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests, as well as leafy suburban parks and wooded urban areas.
Life spanTypically 3 to 8 years in the wild.
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- SpeciesAccipiter cooperii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp talons and beak can cause injury if handled; observe from a safe distance.
Responsible observation
- Backyard Bird Feeders: Look for them perched quietly nearby waiting to ambush visiting songbirds.
- Flight Identification: Distinguish them from sharp-shinned hawks by their rounded tails and larger heads.
- Nesting Season: Keep a respectful distance during spring to avoid disturbing nesting pairs.
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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