Cooper's Hawk

Adults possess relative blue-gray upperparts and a dark cap, with fine reddish-orange horizontal barring on the underparts. Juveniles, like the one pictured, have brown upperparts with white mottling and vertical brown streaks on a white breast.

Long, rounded tail with wide white tip; 'capped' appearance; relatively large head; thick legs; juvenile has fine vertical streaking.

Length: 14-20 in (35-50 cm); Wingspan: 24-35 in (62-90 cm); Weight: 8-24 oz (220-680 g). Females are significantly larger than males.

A series of sharp, nasal 'cak-cak-cak' notes, primarily used during the breeding season.

Primarily medium-sized birds (such as doves and starlings) and occasionally small mammals or lizards.

Mixed deciduous forests, open woodlands, and increasingly common in suburban parks and backyards.

Partial migrant; birds in the northernmost parts of the range move south for winter, while others are permanent residents.

Builds stick nests high in trees, often towards the trunk. Lays 3-5 bluish-white eggs. Both parents defend the nest aggressively.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (smaller, squared tail, no dark cap contrast) and Northern Goshawk (much larger, distinctive white eyebrow).

Apex avian predator that helps regulate populations of small to medium-sized birds and rodents.

Least Concern (IUCN); populations are stable or increasing in many urban areas.

Often found near backyard bird feeders where they hunt songbirds. Look for them perched still in dense cover or flying at high speeds through vegetation.

Cooper's Hawks are sometimes called 'chicken hawks.' They are incredibly agile, using their long tails like rudders to navigate through thick branches at high speeds.