Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinned hawks are two very similar-looking bird species that can be tricky to distinguish. Here is an in-depth comparison to help identify which accipiter you’re seeing.
Appearance
Size:
- Cooper’s hawks are larger, with females typically 14-20 inches long and males 11-15 inches.
- Sharp-shinned hawks are petite, with females 9-11 inches long and males 7-9 inches.
Wings:
- Cooper’s hawks have more rounded wingtips when soaring.
- Sharp-shinned hawks show sharper, squarer wingtips in flight.
Tail:
- Cooper’s hawks have a longer, more rounded tail.
- Sharp-shinned tails are short and squared off at the end.
Head:
- Cooper’s hawks have a larger, broader head that protrudes in front of the wings when perched.
- Sharp-shinned hawks have a small head that doesn’t extend beyond the wings.
Eyes:
- Cooper’s hawks have dark red eyes.
- Sharp-shinned hawks have bright yellow eyes.
Plumage:
- Adult Cooper’s hawks are blue-gray above with reddish barring on the breast.
- Adult sharp-shins are slate-gray above with thin reddish bars on the underparts.
- Juveniles of both species have brown backs with streaking on the chest. Cooper’s streaking is thicker.
Hunting and Behavior
Prey:
- Cooper’s hawks take medium-sized birds like pigeons, jays, robins, and ducks.
- Sharp-shins specialize on small songbirds like sparrows, finches, and warblers.
Attack strategy:
- Cooper’s hawks often pursue prey persistently in longer chases.
- Sharp-shins use short, fast bursts and quick maneuvering.
Flight style:
- Cooper’s hawks beat their wings quicker, with 3-4 faster wingbeats per second.
- Sharp-shins fly with 1-2 slower, stiffer wingbeats per second.
Habitat:
- Cooper’s hawks adapt well to urban areas and are spreading into cities.
- Sharp-shinned hawks prefer forests and woodland habitats.
Range and Distribution
Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinned hawks overlap significantly across North America:
- Cooper’s hawks breed from southern Canada through the continental United States and Mexico.
- Sharp-shinned hawks breed across Canada and the northern United States, moving south for winter.
The bottom line: size and plumage differences are the most reliable identifiers, but also look for tail shape, eyes, flight mannerisms, and habitat clues to distinguish these two similar accipiters. With practice, their distinctive profiles become easier to differentiate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Cooper’s hawks eat?
Cooper’s hawks prey mostly on medium-sized birds like doves, pigeons, jays, blackbirds, and robins. They also take small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians at times.
How fast can Cooper’s hawks fly?
Cooper’s hawks are swift, agile flyers. At top speed, they can reach about 38 mph in active pursuit of prey. Their average cruising flight speed is around 20-30 mph.
Where do Cooper’s hawks nest?
Cooper’s hawks nest in a wide variety of trees of different sizes and types. They often choose pines, oaks, elms, Douglas firs, beeches, spruces, and others. The nests are typically 25-50 feet high.
How long do Cooper’s hawks live?
In the wild, Cooper’s hawks can live 12-16 years on average. The oldest known Cooper’s hawk was 20 years old. With excellent care in captivity, they may reach ages of up to 25 years.
What does a Sharp-shinned hawk sound like?
Sharp-shinned hawks make high, thin whistling calls often described as “seep seep.” They use these to communicate between mates and during nest exchanges. Calls rise in pitch during the breeding season.
How do you attract Sharp-shinned hawks?
Place feeders with small songbirds that sharpies like to prey on, like sparrows, chickadees, and warblers. Put the feeders near cover like dense bushes or trees so the hawks can launch surprise attacks. Avoid large open spaces.
Conclusion
Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinned hawks exhibit subtle differences in size, proportions, plumage, hunting habits, and habitat preferences. With careful observation and practice, birders can learn to distinguish these two similar-looking accipiters. Size and shape are the most reliable identifiers, especially in perched birds. In flight, take note of wing shape, tail length, flight style, and manner of pursuit. Listen for habitat clues as well, as Cooper’s favor urban areas while sharp-shins prefer more forested environments.