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To the Beauty of Birds

This female Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii was photographed at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey north of Orlando. Its closest look-alike is the Sharp-shinned Hawk. The Cooper’s Hawk is the larger of the two. The best distinguishing feature between the two is the shape and slow wing beats of the Cooper’s Hawk compared to the shape and quick snappy wing beats of the Sharp-shinned Hawk. Both have a range throughout the U.S.

Photos 9260 and 9263 were taken on our backyard balcony. This Cooper’s Hawk landed there. I did not notice the bird it had killed until the photo of it flying away. Returning to the original photo showed he had it there.

The male and female Cooper’s Hawks in the 00 series were photographed at the Cape May hawk banding presentation. Its closest look-alike is the Sharp-shinned Hawk. The Cooper’s Hawk is the larger of the two. The best distinguishing feature between the two is the shape and still wing beats of the Cooper’s Hawk compared to the shape and quick snappy wing beats of the Sharp-shinned Hawk. Both have a range throughout the U.S. The Cooper’s Hawk has a more rounded tail.

Cooper's Hawk

Cooper's Hawk 2230 BG

Cooper's Hawk 9260

Cooper's Hawk 9263

Cooper's Hawk male-00761

Cooper's Hawk male-00764

Cooper's Hawk male-00766

Cooper's Hawk male-00774

Cooper's Hawk female-00778

Cooper's Hawk female-00777