Cooper’s hawk has taste for birds

Agile, speedy, skilful hunters, Cooper’s hawks prey upon unsuspecting small birds.

There are three classes of hawks: the accipiters that include Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s and Northern goshawk; the buteos that include Red tails and Northern harrier hawks; and falcons that include peregrines, kestrels and merlins.

To the untrained eye, identification of these hawks is not easy, but they do have some general features that set them apart.

Accipiters are identified by their short, rounded wings and long tails especially designed for manoeuvrability through the forests. Buteos have broad, rounded wings and fanned-shaped tails, both perfect for soaring over open land. And the falcons have pointed wings and straight tails built for high-speed flying.

The Cooper’s hawk, a medium-sized hawk (the Sharp-shinned is the smallest, the goshawk the largest), is between 14 and 20 inches tall, with a 28-to-34-inch wingspan.

Also confusing is the similarity in coloration of the three hawks, even more confusing with the juvenile and adult plumage.

The adult Cooper’s hawks’ upper body surfaces including the wings and tail are pale slate to blueish-grey; from underneath, their bellies and tails are tawny or reddish brown with very distinct cross-barring on creamy white feathers. Their eyes are bright red (that of juveniles are yellow).

In contrast, the first-year juveniles are almost always sepia or chocolate brown above and pale tawny or creamy white below, with very distinct “teardrop” markings.

Highly adaptable, the Cooper’s hawk prefers deciduous woodlands locally, but in other areas of Canada can be found in a variety of habitats including hardwood forests, scrub oaks, prairie, and mixed-fir forests. Not often seen in the open, these hawks live and hunt mainly in forested areas just below the treetops.

They have a very unique flight pattern of four to five quick wingbeats followed by a short glide; they are fast and purposeful in pursuit of small birds which they catch on the wing. Their agility is provided in part by their long tails that act as a steering rudder; the tail is also essential for balance and acts as a break when landing.

Like all raptors or birds of prey, Cooper’s hawks are flesh-eaters, but unlike other hawks, they are almost exclusively bird-hunters. They prefer robins, starlings, quail and jays, but in the winter will happily dine on small birds at the backyard feeder. Although this seems hard to watch, in fact the hawks are very selective, taking only those birds that are slow to react or show signs of weakness, thus naturally culling the birds.

Cooper’s hawk populations are declining, mainly due to forest-clearing and encroachment of urban and industrial sites in their habitat. Female hawks will abandon their nests if disturbed by humans, and they are very sensitive to insecticides and other toxins.

MARS does not regularly receive Cooper’s hawks due to their elusive nature, but has had one in rehab for the past few weeks. Highly agitated and easily stressed, they do not do well in captivity. This bird appeared to have sustained an impact trauma which affected its central nervous system. Unable to stand, fly or feed itself, it has now recovered and is awaiting some favourable weather for release back to the wild.

We would remind everyone who is out driving around dusk and dawn that now the days are shorter and you should drive carefully. Deer, owls and other nocturnal creatures have to adapt to this change; many species are camouflaged for winter, and become even more difficult to see.

Call 1-800-304-9968 to report injured wildlife; for general information call 250-337-2021.

Sandy Fairfield is the educational co-ordinator for the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS). The MARS column appears every second Friday.

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