On a February morning at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I spotted an immature Cooper’s Hawk perched deep in a tangled mass of vines. I was sitting in my truck along the auto tour road with my camera resting on a bean bag draped over the open window. The hawk was alert and focused, watching a group of nearby Red-winged Blackbirds.
It stayed still for several minutes. Its head turned slowly from side to side as it followed their movements.
Moments like this often reveal how these hawks hunt.
Wildlife Notes
Immature Cooper’s Hawks rely heavily on surprise when hunting. They prefer to perch quietly in dense cover where they can remain hidden. Thick vines, brush piles, and tree edges provide ideal concealment.
From these perches, they watch and wait.
Red-winged Blackbirds are common prey, especially in winter and early spring. Blackbirds often feed in open areas, but they stay close to protective cover. The hawk uses nearby vegetation to stay hidden until the right moment.
This immature bird showed classic hunting behavior.
Its upright posture, steady gaze, and slow head movements indicated full attention. Even the slightest movement from a blackbird could trigger an attack.
Most hunting attempts last only seconds.
The hawk launches quickly, using speed and surprise rather than endurance.
Immature birds like this one are still developing their hunting skills. They must practice often to survive their first year.
Seeing one watching potential prey without flushing confirms how important patience is for these young raptors.
Photography Notes
This photo was taken from inside my truck on the auto tour road. Photographing from a vehicle helps avoid alarming wildlife. Birds see vehicles as less threatening than a person on foot.
The thick vines created a natural frame around the hawk. This added context and showed the habitat it was using.
I rested my Canon RF 200-800mm lens on a bean bag for stability. This setup allows sharp images even at long focal lengths.
The hawk remained calm and never reacted to my presence.
Moments like this reward staying still and letting wildlife behave naturally.
Camera Settings
- Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
- Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
- Focal length: 800mm
- Aperture: f/9
- Shutter speed: 1/2000 second
- ISO: 1000
- Support: Bean bag on truck window
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma