Diet
What do Cooper's hawks eat?
Almost entirely birds and small mammals, often caught at feeders.
Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)Cooper's HawkAstur cooperii
Spring and summer diet
- Doves, jays, starlings and chipmunks
Fall and winter diet
- Feeder birds — sparrows, finches and doves
Best feeder foods
- None — it hunts live prey; active feeders are the attraction
The classic 'feeder hawk'. If one moves in, take feeders down for a week or two and it will move on.
Where Cooper's hawks need winter food
Regions where Cooper's hawks are present in the cold months:
AlabamaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Frequently asked
What do Cooper's hawks eat?
Almost entirely birds and small mammals, often caught at feeders.
What is the best food to feed Cooper's hawks?
None — it hunts live prey; active feeders are the attraction.
What do Cooper's hawks eat in winter?
Feeder birds — sparrows, finches and doves.
Sources
- Cooper's Hawk — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cooper's Hawk life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cooper's Hawk — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.