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Difference between revisions of "Cooper's Hawk" - BirdForum Opus

m (Change flight photo)
(Photo of Juvenile. Dictionary link. References)
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[[Image:Coopers_Hawk.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|plwilliams|plwilliams}} <br />St. George, [[Utah]]]]
 
;[[:Category:Accipiter|Accipiter]] cooperii
 
;[[:Category:Accipiter|Accipiter]] cooperii
[[Image:Coopers_Hawk.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Photo by {{user|plwilliams|plwilliams}} <br />St. George, [[Utah]]]]
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Length 14-20" (36-51 cm), wingspan 28" (71 cm)A crow-sized hawk with long tail, short rounded wings, and tail tip rounded, not squared-off. The Adult is slate-gray above, with a dark cap and finely rust-barred below. The immature  is brown above, whitish below with fine streaks. Cooper's Hawks mature rapidly for birds their size; a full 25 percent of young birds breed the year after they are hatched, and the rest the year after that.
+
Length 14-20" (36-51 cm), wingspan 28" (71 cm)<br />
 
+
A crow-sized hawk with long tail, short rounded wings, and tail tip rounded, not squared-off.<br />
 +
The Adult is slate-gray above, with a dark cap and finely rust-barred below.<br />
 +
The immature  is brown above, whitish below with fine streaks. Cooper's Hawks mature rapidly for birds their size; a full 25 percent of young birds breed the year after they are hatched, and the rest the year after that.
 
====Similar species====
 
====Similar species====
 
Most similar to [[Sharp-shinned Hawk]], but larger on average, with more rounded tail rather than notched or straight.<br/>   
 
Most similar to [[Sharp-shinned Hawk]], but larger on average, with more rounded tail rather than notched or straight.<br/>   
 
In flight, the wings are brought forward with Sharp-shinned, but extend straight out with Cooper's.  The head shape is different, with Cooper's having a longer, more "blocky" head.  Also similar to [[Northern Goshawk]], especially immature birds.
 
In flight, the wings are brought forward with Sharp-shinned, but extend straight out with Cooper's.  The head shape is different, with Cooper's having a longer, more "blocky" head.  Also similar to [[Northern Goshawk]], especially immature birds.
 
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[[Image:Coophwk 15112010 postfinal.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|digishooter|digishooter}}<br />Wofford Heights, Kern Co, [[California]], [[USA]], November 2010]]
[[Image:IMG_9268.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Adult in flight.  Photo by {{user|Gary+Clark|Gary Clark}} <br/>Location: ne [[Nevada]], [[USA]].]]
 
 
 
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Breeds from [[British Columbia]] east to [[Manitoba]] and Canadian Maritimes, and south to [[Mexico]], Gulf Coast, and northern [[Florida]]; absent or local throughout much of Great Plains.
 
Breeds from [[British Columbia]] east to [[Manitoba]] and Canadian Maritimes, and south to [[Mexico]], Gulf Coast, and northern [[Florida]]; absent or local throughout much of Great Plains.
  
 
Winters from Central America north to [[British Columbia]] and southern New England.
 
Winters from Central America north to [[British Columbia]] and southern New England.
 
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Monotypic.
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Deciduous and, less often, coniferous forests, especially those interrupted by meadows and clearings.
 
Deciduous and, less often, coniferous forests, especially those interrupted by meadows and clearings.
 
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 +
[[Image:IMG_9268.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Adult in flight<br /> Photo by {{user|Gary+Clark|Gary Clark}} <br />North-eastern [[Nevada]], [[USA]].]]
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
Feeds mainly on birds, which it chases relentlessly through the woods. It also takes small mammals and, in the West, lizards and snakes.  
 
Feeds mainly on birds, which it chases relentlessly through the woods. It also takes small mammals and, in the West, lizards and snakes.  
 
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
 
4 or 5 dull-white eggs, spotted with brown, on a bulky platform of sticks and twigs, usually more than 20' (6 m) above the ground.<br/>
 
4 or 5 dull-white eggs, spotted with brown, on a bulky platform of sticks and twigs, usually more than 20' (6 m) above the ground.<br/>
 
During incubation and the early stages of brooding the young, the male bird does all the hunting, bringing food to both his mate and the nestlings.
 
During incubation and the early stages of brooding the young, the male bird does all the hunting, bringing food to both his mate and the nestlings.
 
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
 
Loud ''cack-cack-cack-cack'', a little bit lower than the [[Sharp-shinned Hawk]].
 
Loud ''cack-cack-cack-cack'', a little bit lower than the [[Sharp-shinned Hawk]].
 
+
==References==
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}#[http://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/coopers-hawk.html Article concerning wing length and weight of Cooper's Hawks]
 +
#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=15132 A thread discussing separation from Sharp-shinned Hawk]
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
*[http://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/coopers-hawk.html Article concerning wing length and weight of Cooper's Hawks]
 
 
{{GSearch|Accipiter+cooperii}}  
 
{{GSearch|Accipiter+cooperii}}  
 
<br />
 
<br />
 
{{Video|Cooper's_Hawk}}
 
{{Video|Cooper's_Hawk}}
 
<br />
 
<br />
[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=15132 A thread discussing separation from Sharp-shinned Hawk]
 
  
 
''Originally posted by '''talon_dfa'''''
 
''Originally posted by '''talon_dfa'''''
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Accipiter]] [[Category:Videos]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Accipiter]] [[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 23:46, 23 March 2011

Female
Photo by plwilliams
St. George, Utah
Accipiter cooperii

Identification

Length 14-20" (36-51 cm), wingspan 28" (71 cm)
A crow-sized hawk with long tail, short rounded wings, and tail tip rounded, not squared-off.
The Adult is slate-gray above, with a dark cap and finely rust-barred below.
The immature is brown above, whitish below with fine streaks. Cooper's Hawks mature rapidly for birds their size; a full 25 percent of young birds breed the year after they are hatched, and the rest the year after that.

Similar species

Most similar to Sharp-shinned Hawk, but larger on average, with more rounded tail rather than notched or straight.
In flight, the wings are brought forward with Sharp-shinned, but extend straight out with Cooper's. The head shape is different, with Cooper's having a longer, more "blocky" head. Also similar to Northern Goshawk, especially immature birds.

Juvenile
Photo by digishooter
Wofford Heights, Kern Co, California, USA, November 2010

Distribution

Breeds from British Columbia east to Manitoba and Canadian Maritimes, and south to Mexico, Gulf Coast, and northern Florida; absent or local throughout much of Great Plains.

Winters from Central America north to British Columbia and southern New England.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Deciduous and, less often, coniferous forests, especially those interrupted by meadows and clearings.

Behaviour

Adult in flight
Photo by Gary Clark
North-eastern Nevada, USA.

Diet

Feeds mainly on birds, which it chases relentlessly through the woods. It also takes small mammals and, in the West, lizards and snakes.

Breeding

4 or 5 dull-white eggs, spotted with brown, on a bulky platform of sticks and twigs, usually more than 20' (6 m) above the ground.
During incubation and the early stages of brooding the young, the male bird does all the hunting, bringing food to both his mate and the nestlings.

Vocalisation

Loud cack-cack-cack-cack, a little bit lower than the Sharp-shinned Hawk.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. Article concerning wing length and weight of Cooper's Hawks
  3. A thread discussing separation from Sharp-shinned Hawk

Recommended Citation

External Links



Originally posted by talon_dfa

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