365 Urban Species. #021: Cooper's Hawk

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Urban Species #021: Cooper's hawk Accipiter cooperii

This agile, bird-hunting raptor has come to be something of a specialist at hunting at birdfeeders. Most often it is seen as a blur, suddenly swooping through and scattering chickadees and mourning doves every which way. It was once more common, but was persecuted as a "chicken hawk." (Indeed, in my time at Drumlin Farm, we have lost two chickens to Cooper's hawks.) The Cooper's hawk is tolerant of the fragmentation of its forest habitat, and will nest in urban areas; it is increasing in numbers. The American kestrel, a smaller urban raptor, is diminishing as a result. It seems that Cooper's hawks will eat kestrels, given the opportunity.