Cooper’s Hawk

Accipiter cooperii
Accipitridae
Immature waiting to pounce on passing prey
Composite of all plumages
Adult plumage from back, dark cap contrasts sharply with nape; eyes reddish
Front view of adult plumage
Puffed up to stay warm in December
Female bathing
Adult in flight
Female at right accepted food from male at left
Female with food from male
Mating pair
Unlike parents, nestlings have light-colored eyes
Fledgelings acquiring fierce look of parents
Parent identified by red eyes
Juvenile picked up prey caught by parent
Immature hidden amongst branches waiting to pounce on passing prey
Immature with Common Grackle caught at feeder

Cooper's Hawks that migrate through Salter Grove are probably more numerous than what recorded sightings would suggest.  Unlike the larger Red-tailed Hawk, it does not soar overhead nor perch conspicuously on the top of tall trees.  Instead, it stays hidden amongst tree branches within woodland or along their edges so as to ambush passing birds or small mammals.  

Even if effective, the technique of swooping quickly onto the victim means occasionally crashing through branches.  A study of 300 Cooper's Hawk skeletons revealed that nearly a fourth of the specimens had healed-over fractures in the breast bones.  Talk about occupational hazard!

Females are significantly larger than their mates and specialize in eating medium-size birds like American Robins, Blue Jays, chickens, European Starlings, Mourning Doves, Northern Flicker, pheasants, quails, and Rock Pigeons.  Male Cooper's Hawks appear submissive to their mates and only approach when the female invites them with reassuring calls.

Cooper's Hawks breed from southern Canada to northern Mexico.  Birds that breed in the more northerly regions winter in Mexico and some parts of Central America.  Birds that breed further south are usually year-round residents.  

It has adapted well to the suburban landscape and has learned to wait for easy prey at bird feeders.