Above: Adult (left) and immature Cooper’s Hawks; by Peter Taylor.
How do I recognize it?
Cooper’s Hawk is a relatively short-winged, long-tailed raptor, built for manoeuvrability in high-speed pursuit of prey through dense woodland. Roughly crow-sized, it is intermediate between the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk and the larger American Goshawk. Relative size is difficult to judge, however, when a single hawk flies by—all the more difficult because (as with most raptors) females are substantially larger than males.
Although Cooper’s Hawk is more closely related to the American Goshawk, its coloration resembles that of the Sharp-shinned Hawk. Adults are bluish grey above, with darker tail-bands and crown; the underparts are whitish with reddish barring. The under-tail area is conspicuously white, especially when these feathers are puffed out in slow-flapping spring display flights. Immature birds are dark brown above with a few white flecks, while the white breast is decorated with dark, teardrop-shaped markings.
Above: A rare December sighting in Winnipeg; by Garry Budyk.
Does it migrate?
Cooper’s Hawks breed across most of the conterminous U.S.A., a limited portion of southern Canada, and parts of northern Mexico. The species is a relatively short-distance migrant, largely vacating the northernmost parts of its breeding distribution in fall, while ranging southward across most of Mexico. In Manitoba, Cooper’s Hawks are seen mostly between April and October, and are rarely found here in winter.
Above: Beware, cottontails and friends – yond Cooper’s has a lean and hungry look! (Lagimodière-Gaboury Park, St-Boniface); by Peter Taylor.
Where does it live?
Cooper’s Hawks nest in southern Manitoba from the U.S. border to the southern edge of the boreal forest. Their range extends farther north in western Manitoba than in the east.
Above: Hiding in plain sight: early spring along the Red River; by Peter Taylor.
Where can I see it?
Preferred breeding habitat includes aspen parkland and riparian woods. Cooper’s Hawks are often found in urban parks, including many Winnipeg locations along the Red, Assiniboine, and Seine rivers. Hunting individuals often raid backyard bird-feeders. When driving through partly wooded farmland, you may glimpse a Cooper’s Hawk dashing from one deciduous woodlot to another.
Above: Immature Cooper’s Hawk. The enlargement shows the gradation in feather length that gives the tail a rounded profile when fanned; by Peter Taylor.
Conservation Status:
Due in part to the banning of DDT and related insecticides, reduced direct persecution, and its adaptability to wooded urban environments, Cooper’s Hawk is currently considered to be a secure species.
Above: Adult bathing in a puddle, Beacon Hill Park, Victoria BC; by Peter Taylor.
Did you know:
As one of the many North American birds named after historic naturalists or their acquaintances, Cooper’s Hawk awaits a new, more descriptive name from the American Ornithological Society. The current name commemorates William Cooper (1798-1864).
Written by Peter Taylor