Cooper's Hawk

About the Cooper's Hawk

Cooper's hawk (Astur cooperii) is a medium-sized hawk native to the North American continent and found from southern Canada to Mexico. This species was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter. As in many birds of prey, the male is smaller than the female. The birds found east of the Mississippi River tend to be larger on average than the birds found to the west. It is easily confused with the smaller but similar sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus). The species was named in 1828 by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in honor of his friend and fellow ornithologist, William Cooper. Other common names for Cooper's hawk include: big blue darter, chicken hawk, flying cross, hen hawk, quail hawk, striker, and swift hawk.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name

Astur cooperii

Family

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Order

Accipitriformes

Similar species

Other members of the hawks, eagles, and kites family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

• American Goshawk Astur atricapillus
• Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
• Bicolored Hawk Astur bicolor
• Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus
• Black Kite Milvus migrans
• Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus melanoleucus
• Black-collared Hawk Busarellus nigricollis
• Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
• Chinese Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza soloensis
• Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus
• Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens
• Crested Eagle Morphnus guianensis