The birds and wildlife have not been as active in my yard this winter as they have been in the past few years. I think this Cooper’s Hawk is the reason.
We have had a Hawk in the neighborhood before and it has taken a few birds from my feeders but this winter it seems to have gotten more aggressive toward anything that moves.
Don’t get me wrong! I like seeing the Hawk but I also like seeing all the other wildlife that visit my yard. I have just noticed a difference this winter and it may not have anything to do with this Cooper’s Hawk.
The above photos were taken with the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS mainly because it was in my neighbor’s yard and I could get this camera the quickest.
Cooper’s Hawks prey almost exclusively on small to mid-sized birds. Typical prey species include American Robins, other thrushes, jays, woodpeckers, European Starlings, quail, icterids, cuckoos, pigeons and doves. Birds preyed on can range in size from wood-warblers to Ring-necked Pheasants. They may also prey upon the raptor American Kestrel and other smaller raptors, including their cousin the Sharp-shinned Hawk. They have been known to rob nests and may supplement their diet with small mammals such as chipmunks, hares, mice, squirrels, and bats.[
11 Comments
He could have at least turned his head towards you for a shot! They are beautiful animals!
True Jim. This hawk has been a difficult bird for me to photograph because it leaves when I’m outside but shows up as soon as I go indoors.
Are you sure it’s not a Coopers Hawk?
Alan! It could be! I suck at Hawk ID and I am just not sure.
did you take the pictures down? I am getting boxes with x’s in them.
I have a neighbor who has an Azalea bush, we have been watching a small bird hiding in the bush, and leaping out and grabbing any of the yellow and black butterflies, not the ones that are a majority of black, but the ones with more yellow and black is the outline and design in the wings. This bird has been going at them for three days now. He sits quietly in the center behind the blossoms, and when the yellow fellow comes close, he darts out and snatches it into the bush. there is no nest in there. But I have to admit, there are plentiful amounts of butter flies right now. He will not take the ones that are more blueish with a little yellow.
Wonder what kind he is, I just see the darkness come out and a flutter of wings and he is back in the bush!
I’m not sure what kind of bird that is. I’m also not sure why you are not seeing the photos. I was having problems earlier with this blog and that may have something to do with it.
Great photos of a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk Steve – if it’s very aggressive it must have found your yard to be a haven and is trying to make up for getting no food elsewhere – I’ve had both a mature Cooper’s and a juvie and their cousin the sharp-shinned hanging around pretty often when we had lots of snow… but I have up to 100 birds at the feeders… and the Cooper’s diet is small birds I understand… so they’ve been eating well. Not my favourite pastime – seeing that but it’s nature and life… enjoy your hawks – and you might like to check out Melissa’s in Out Walking the Dog – she’s got red-tails in New York City! Cheerio.
Thanks Barbara for the heads up on Melissa’s post!
Great pics Steve! I’ve got a coopers in my neighborhood too, but wouldn’t you know it, I never see him when my camera is in hand.
Bill
Bill, I just got lucky this time. I have been trying to get photos for awhile.
One Trackback
[...] A Cooper’s Hawk Patrolling My Neighborhood – a pair of great images are the basis for a great blog post by Steve Creek. This incredible bird is a fearsome creature in the wild, and Steve’s photographs bring it’s wonderful character out for all to enjoy. [...]