Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Identification
Adult: female approximately crow size, male slightly smaller; sexes similar in coloration patterns;
Tail: long, slightly rounded with 3-4 bands; distinct white tip;
Throat: light with brown streaking;
Wings: underside light brown with brown or black barring on primaries and a distinct wide black band along
trailing edge of secondaries;
Breast and underside: cream or white, splotchy rust barring;
Head: sometimes crest present;
Eye: orange or red.
Immature: similar to adult;
Underside: white with dark vertical streaking;
Tail: indistinct bands of medium and dark brown;
Eye: yellow.
Habitat
Found in upland hardwoods or mixed coniferous forest; will nest in urban/suburban locales.
Nests:
medium 18-26" in diameter in deciduous or coniferous trees. Typically observed hunting near bird feeders.
Range
Summer statewide; more common in south. Winter: southern 1/2 of state.
Call
Audio recording not yet available
