Dawson Carter2/6/2014

Environmental science Pd.3

Cooper’s hawkAccipiter cooperii 

Physical Characteristics Length: 14.6–15.4 in Wingspan: 24.4–35.4 in

Weight: 7.8–14.5 oz  With the females being slightly larger then

the males Broad, rounded wings and a very long tail Adults, steely blue-gray above with warm

reddish bars on the underparts and thick dark bands on the tail

Juveniles are brown above and crisply streaked with brown on the upper breast

small knob under the third digit which is unique to this bird.

Life history/reproduction Live up to 12 years Eggs are layed between late march and

early june Lay 1 brood with 2-6 eggs Eggs incubate for 30-36 days Chicks fledge with in weeks The chick then fly away and care for

themselves Mature in 3 years

Food & Water Up to 80% of diet small birds Rob nests Supplement diet with small mammals

Habitat All types of forests Prefer open stands of trees instead of

thick continuous forest Prefers forest interrupted by meadows

and clearings

Distribution

Behavior  capture prey from cover or while flying

quickly through dense vegetation  hunt songbirds at backyard feeders The Cooper’s Hawks are monogamous,

but most do not mate for life communicate using vocalizations and

displays  Males are usually submissive to females

Predators, parasites, & diseases

Eggs and nestlings are rarely preyed on Adults are rarely preyed on hunted

mainly by larger raptors

Status Delaware: threatened Federal: threatened Cause: pesticide impact on reproduction

and over hunting due to them hunting chickens and songbirds. Loss of habitat

Conservation Banning of pesticides  now known that predation by these

hawks on domestic animals is negligible

Impact if eliminated American Kestrel recovery Over population of song birds

References http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/coope

rs_hawk/lifehistory http://www.birds.cornell.edu/bfl/speciesac

cts/coohaw.html http://birds.audubon.org/birds/coopers-ha

wk http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/

photos/coophawk.htm