Bird Gallery Index

Cooper's Hawk image © Greg Lavaty

Family: (Accipitridae) Hawks and Allies

Preferred Habitat: Woodlands.

Seasonal Occurrence: Uncommon fall through spring.

Notes: Cooper's Hawks are a slightly larger, less common version of Sharp-shinned Hawks. Like "Sharpies", they are primarily woodland species. However, Cooper's Hawks may sometimes be found perched on roadside wires, something a Sharp-shinned Hawk almost never does. Adult Cooper's Hawks have slate-blue upperparts and cream-colored chests marked with rusty horizontal stripes. Juveniles have brown upperparts with streaky brown and cream breasts. In comparison with Sharpies, the heads of Cooper's Hawks seem larger in proportion to their bodies. Migrating Cooper's Hawks are best viewed in the fall at the Smith Point Hawk Watch
- Susan Billetdeaux

Cooper's Hawk image © Joseph Kennedy. Image taken at Smith Point Hawk Watch.