Cooper’s Hawk

Description:

The Cooper’s Hawk is a bird of prey found between Southern Canada and Northern Mexico. Interestingly, the birds found along the Mississippi River are larger than the average hawk of other regions. As is common with most birds of prey, the male is significantly smaller than its female counterpart. These hawks have short, rounded wings and a long tail. On the tail, which can grow betwwen 17-20 centimeters, are dark bands. Adults of this species have red eyes and a black cap while juveniles have yellow eyes and brown caps. The coloring of the adults and juveniles differs aswell.

Habitat:

The breeding range for this bird extends from southern Canada to northern Mexico. They have a generally dense population in the southern regions, unlike some of their counterparts. They have found predominantly in in deciduous forests and woodlands. Throughout the years, they have migrated towards urban areas and are now common birds to see in suburban, rural, and urban towns. Despite this, studies have shown that the birds prefer to breed in woodland areas.