Birds Active during the day

Cooper's Hawk

Astur cooperii

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

The 'fighter pilot' of the backyard, the Cooper's Hawk is a master of speed and agility, turning suburban gardens into its personal hunting grounds with breathtaking precision.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Length: 14–20 in (35–50 cm); Wingspan: 24–35 in (60–90 cm); Weight: 0.5–1.3 lbs (220–600 g)

palette

Colors

Adults feature steely blue-gray upperparts and white underparts with fine reddish-orange barring. Juveniles are brown above with vertical brown streaks on the breast. Both have dark bands on the tail.

visibility

Key Features

Long, rounded tail with thick dark bands and a prominent white tip
Large, squared-off head with a dark cap
Short, rounded wings designed for forest maneuverability
Strong, thick legs and yellow-to-orange feet

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern Active during the day

brightness_5

Peak hours 7-11 AM, 3-6 PM

calendar_month

Season Year-round

restaurant

Diet A specialized hunter of medium-sized birds (such as European Starlings, American Robins, and Mourning Doves) and small mammals like squirrels and chipmunks.

park

Habitat Native woodlands and deciduous forests, but increasingly common in leafy suburban neighborhoods, city parks, and forest edges.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Cooper's Hawk Live?

Where Does the Cooper's Hawk Live? This species is a true North American native, with a range that spans from the southern reaches of Canada across the entire United States and deep into Central Mexico. While many populations in the southern and coastal regions are year-round residents, those that breed in the northernmost forests of Canada often migrate south to the United States or Mexico for the winter. They are incredibly versatile, finding homes in both deep wilderness and the heart of bustling metropolitan areas where mature trees are present.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

3 Countries

8.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States MX Mexico CA Canada

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Birds arrow_forward

Behavior

Cooper's Hawks are the elite aerial acrobats of the bird world, possessing a remarkable ability to navigate through dense branches at high speeds. Unlike many other hawks that soar in wide circles, the Cooper's Hawk is an ambush specialist. It often sits motionless on a concealed perch, waiting for the perfect moment to launch a lightning-fast pursuit of a songbird or small mammal. Their flight style is characterized by several quick wingbeats followed by a short glide.

In recent decades, these raptors have become highly adapted to human environments. They have learned that suburban bird feeders act as a 'supermarket' for their preferred prey. While they can be solitary and elusive in the wild, suburban individuals often become quite bold, frequently seen perching on backyard fences or low tree limbs. They are also known for their hygiene, often visiting large bird baths to soak and preen after a hunt.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture a Cooper's Hawk on your AI-powered camera, you need to think like a hunter. The most successful camera placements are those that overlook 'staging areas' near bird feeders. Instead of pointing your camera directly at the feeder, aim it at a nearby fence post or a sturdy, horizontal tree branch. Cooper's Hawks will often land here first to survey the area before diving for a meal. Position the camera about 5-8 feet off the ground for these perching shots.

Another high-traffic area is a large, ground-level bird bath. Because Cooper's Hawks are larger than typical songbirds, they need a substantial water source for bathing. A wide, stone basin or even a small backyard pond is a magnet for them. Set your camera on a low tripod or mount it to a nearby stake about 12 inches off the ground to capture intimate, eye-level footage of them splashing. Use a fast trigger speed (0.5s or less) because their movements are explosive and unpredictable.

Lighting is key to getting a good ID. Try to position your camera facing away from the sun to highlight the 'cap' on their head and the orange barring on their chest. If your camera has a 'burst mode,' enable it; capturing 3-5 photos per trigger event increases your chances of getting a sharp image of the hawk in motion. During the winter, look for 'plucking posts'—stumps or logs where you see piles of feathers—as these are recurring meal spots where you can reliably capture feeding behavior.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Cooper's Hawk.

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Smaller with a more rounded head and a square-tipped tail; lacks the Cooper's Hawk's distinct 'dark cap' look.

Browse all Birds arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

Cooper's Hawks are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They are most frequently seen hunting during the early morning hours (7-10 AM) and again in the late afternoon, coinciding with the peak activity times of the songbirds they prey upon.

You don't need to put out special food; they are naturally drawn to areas with high bird activity. To encourage them to stay for a photo, provide a large, sturdy bird bath for drinking and bathing, and maintain some tall, dense trees or evergreens where they can perch and hide while hunting.

Their diet consists almost entirely of medium-sized birds like starlings, doves, and jays. They also frequently hunt small mammals, particularly tree squirrels and chipmunks, catching them with their sharp talons after a high-speed chase.

Yes, they are very well-adapted to suburban living. In fact, many studies show that Cooper's Hawks now have higher nesting success in suburban environments than in deep forests, thanks to the abundance of prey at backyard bird feeders.

The Cooper's Hawk is larger (about crow-sized) and has a more 'squared-off' head shape with a dark cap. Its tail is noticeably rounded at the end with a thick white tip, whereas the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk has a square-ended tail and a more rounded head.

Record Cooper's Hawk at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo