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Project Noah Nature School
Accipiter cooperii
Among the bird world’s most skillful fliers, Cooper’s Hawks are common woodland hawks that tear through cluttered tree canopies in high speed pursuit of other birds. You’re most likely to see one prowling above a forest edge or field using just a few stiff wingbeats followed by a glide. With their smaller lookalike, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawks make for famously tricky identifications. Both species are sometimes unwanted guests at bird feeders, looking for an easy meal (but not one of sunflower seeds).
This poor bird had apparently hit a window or building. It obviously had a broken neck. I felt it appropriate to share with all my friends on Project Noah. What a shame.
Spotted on Dec 2, 2013
Submitted on Dec 2, 2013
13 Comments
Just seems such a waste. These are beautiful birds.
Road kills make me sad too.
Hi Ashley. It's macabre and interesting at the same time! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Naturalist Amanda. Didn't know this and I feel something was learned by me as a result of my experience. Thank you.
Thank you, Jemma. I felt bad. It's always worse when man's intrusion into nature causes this kind of incident. :(
R.I.P dear bird.
One interesting note about the Cooper's Hawk is that there is a small knob under the third digit which is unique to this bird. This stubby knob is a giveaway that the accipiter is definitely a Cooper's Hawk.
Reference: http://www.themodernapprentice.com/coope...
Haha, just a little after Halloween! No idea how long it had been up before I saw it, but we've had 40+ mph winds on several occasions and she's still there! http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/710...
Hi Ashley. It wasn't on Halloween was it? Nevermore! (Oops that was a raven. Shades of Poe)
I agree with it being a Cooper's. A few weeks ago I went into my front yard and noticed a dead female great-tailed grackle hanging by one foot in a tree. Passerines (the song birds) have feet that automatically lock when they land on a branch. This gal somehow died on the branch and is still hanging there, been there for at least a month now lol
Unfortunately, Jeannette, the hawk was deceased. We returned him to the environment as required under federal law. Really sad. I felt bad about it. What a beautiful creature.
Thanks, Ashley. It seemed like such a shame and I didn't want the remains to just be forgotten, so I figured I'd share, even though it had died. I was pretty sure it was probably a Cooper's Hawk, but I figured all the experts out there could confirm for me. Thanks for the comment!
Poor guy, unfortunately this happens all the time. Thanks for sharing though! I would love to have one of these in my backyard to take out some of the house sparrows that eat all the seed I put out ;)
Is it dead