Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)

Cooper's Hawk

Astur cooperii. Almost entirely birds and small mammals, often caught at feeders.

Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)Cooper's HawkAstur cooperii

Scientific name: Astur cooperii
Length: 14.6–17.7 in
Weight: 7.8–24 oz
Nest: Stick platform in a dense tree crotch, 25–50 ft up
Entrance hole: Does not use nest boxes
Clutch: 2–6 eggs
Incubation: 30–36 days
Broods: 1 per season

Identification

Blue-grey back with rusty barring below
Long rounded tail with wide white tip
Adults have fierce red eyes

Voice

Loud, rapid 'kak-kak-kak' near the nest.

Diet and feeding

Almost entirely birds and small mammals, often caught at feeders.

What do Cooper's hawks eat? · Best feeder for Cooper's hawks

Cooper's Hawks by state and province

Region	Status	Nesting
Alabama	Year-round resident	February–June
Alberta	Summer breeder	April–June
Arizona	Year-round resident	February–June
Arkansas	Year-round resident	March–June
British Columbia	Summer breeder	April–June
California	Year-round resident	February–June
Colorado	Year-round resident	March–June
Connecticut	Year-round resident	March–June
Delaware	Year-round resident	March–June
Florida	Year-round resident	February–June
Georgia	Year-round resident	February–June
Idaho	Year-round resident	March–June
Illinois	Year-round resident	March–June
Indiana	Year-round resident	March–June
Iowa	Year-round resident	March–June
Kansas	Year-round resident	March–June
Kentucky	Year-round resident	March–June
Louisiana	Year-round resident	February–June
Maine	Year-round resident	April–June
Manitoba	Summer breeder	April–June
Maryland	Year-round resident	March–June
Massachusetts	Year-round resident	March–June
Michigan	Year-round resident	March–June
Minnesota	Year-round resident	April–June
Mississippi	Year-round resident	February–June
Missouri	Year-round resident	March–June
Montana	Year-round resident	April–June
Nebraska	Year-round resident	March–June
Nevada	Year-round resident	March–June
New Brunswick	Summer breeder	April–June
New Hampshire	Year-round resident	April–June
New Jersey	Year-round resident	March–June
New Mexico	Year-round resident	March–June
New York	Year-round resident	March–June
North Carolina	Year-round resident	March–June
North Dakota	Winter visitor	—
Nova Scotia	Summer breeder	April–June
Ohio	Year-round resident	March–June
Oklahoma	Year-round resident	March–June
Ontario	Summer breeder	April–June
Oregon	Year-round resident	March–June
Pennsylvania	Year-round resident	March–June
Quebec	Summer breeder	April–June
Rhode Island	Year-round resident	March–June
Saskatchewan	Summer breeder	April–June
South Carolina	Year-round resident	February–June
South Dakota	Winter visitor	—
Tennessee	Year-round resident	March–June
Texas	Year-round resident	February–June
Utah	Year-round resident	March–June
Vermont	Year-round resident	April–June
Virginia	Year-round resident	March–June
Washington	Year-round resident	March–June
West Virginia	Year-round resident	March–June
Wisconsin	Year-round resident	April–June
Wyoming	Year-round resident	April–June

Frequently asked

What do Cooper's hawks eat?

Almost entirely birds and small mammals, often caught at feeders. At feeders: none — it hunts live prey; active feeders are the attraction.

How big is a Cooper's Hawk?

14.6–17.7 in long and 7.8–24 oz.

Do Cooper's hawks use birdhouses?

No. Stick platform in a dense tree crotch, 25–50 ft up.

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.