Cooper's Hawk

A medium-sized hawk specialized for hunting birds. Adults have blue-gray backs and rufous-barred underparts. The tail is long with rounded corners and distinct dark bands, as seen in this specimen.

Bold horizontal banding (barring) featuring alternating dark brown/charcoal and light grey/off-white bands. Typically 3-4 dark bands are visible. The tip often shows a narrow white terminal band.

Pennaceous; tightly interlocked barbs providing a stiff, wind-resistant surface for flight and steering. Minimal plumulaceous base.

Stiff, smooth, and slightly matte. Designed for durability and aerodynamics during high-speed maneuvers through dense vegetation.

Distinctive wide, dark horizontal bars; rounded tip; white terminal edge; stiff structure characteristic of Accipiter hawks.

Woodlands, forested edges, and increasingly common in suburban areas with mature trees and bird feeders.

Found throughout North America, from Southern Canada to Central Mexico. Northern populations are migratory, while southern populations are year-round residents.

Apex avian predator. They play a vital role in controlling populations of small-to-medium birds and rodents.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (smaller, tail tip is usually square rather than rounded) and Northern Goshawk (much larger, different banding pattern).

Cooper's Hawks are 'true hawks' or 'accipiters.' They are famous for their agility, often flying at high speeds through thick branches to ambush smaller birds.

Fair to Good. Shows some ruffling and separation of the barbs (zips) near the tip and base, likely from natural wear or impact during molting.