ExploreBird

Cooper's Hawk

Astur cooperii

Cooper's Hawks are clever birds of prey that love to hunt for small animals. They have beautiful feathers and can fly really fast through trees to catch their dinner.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Cooper's Hawk has short, rounded wings and a long tail, giving it an agile shape. Adults display a blue-gray back, dark cap, and rusty barred underparts, while juveniles are brown-backed with streaky breasts. Its relatively large head helps distinguish it from similar accipiters.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderAccipitriformesFamilyAccipitridaeGenusAccipiter

Cooper's Hawk

Interesting facts

Cooper's Hawks are super agile and can even catch birds mid-flight in dense woods!

Female Cooper's Hawks are much bigger than the males, sometimes by half their weight!

Their eyes change from bright yellow in youth to fiery red as they get older!

They build their nests in the crotch of a tree, often reusing nests from previous years.

Special abilities

Cooper's Hawk can weave through dense forests because its short, rounded wings and long tail help it maneuver swiftly.

Cooper's Hawk has excellent vision and explosive speed that help it ambush unsuspecting birds from hidden perches.

Cooper's Hawk can quickly flip upside down in flight to grab prey that attempts to escape upwards.

Measurements & details

Length: 35-50 cm
Wingspan: 60-90 cm
Weight: 0.2-0.7 kg
Lifespan: 8-12 years
Top Speed: 65 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-5
Incubation: 30-36 days

Diet & Feeding

These fierce hunters mostly eat small to medium-sized birds, with some small mammals too.

Primary Foods

American Robin
European Starling
Mourning Dove
Chipmunks
Squirrels

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

often targets backyard birds.

hunts

European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

reduces invasive bird populations.

eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

a top nocturnal predator.

hunts

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

preys on tree-dwelling mammals.

Traits

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Aerial

Discover amazing creatures that spend much of their lives soaring high above the ground, often using wings to fly! They might hunt, travel, or even sleep up in the sky.

Ambush Predator

Meet masters of surprise! These clever hunters hide quietly and wait patiently for their prey to come close before pouncing with a quick move.

Forest

These lush habitats are filled with countless trees, offering homes to a huge variety of plants and animals! Immerse yourself in the green canopy.

Carnivorous

Discover fierce hunters and clever predators that get all their energy from eating other animals. They play a vital role in keeping nature's balance.

Diurnal

Wake up with creatures that are most active during the day! They love the sunshine for finding food, playing, and exploring.

Speedster

Discover creatures that dart, zip, and fly with incredible swiftness, making them masters of rapid movement in their habitats. They are built for speed, whether chasing prey or escaping danger.