The Cooper’s Hawk is a medium-sized raptor native to North America, known for its incredible agility while hunting. Many people encounter this bird and wonder about its status, often assuming it is a rare or threatened species. This misconception stems from the hawk’s history of decline and subsequent recovery. The Cooper’s Hawk represents a significant conservation success story, though its future requires continued monitoring.
Current Conservation Status
The Cooper’s Hawk is not considered an endangered species at the federal level across the United States. Its official classification by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is “Least Concern,” reflecting a stable and widespread population throughout its range from southern Canada down to Mexico. While the federal status is secure, conservation status can vary at a localized level. Some states may still list the Cooper’s Hawk as a “Species of Concern” or “Threatened” due to specific localized issues, such as small-scale habitat loss. Population indices show stability at 73% of monitoring sites, confirming its strong position in the North American avifauna.
Identifying the Cooper’s Hawk
Adult Cooper’s Hawks have a distinct steely blue-gray back, warm reddish-orange barring across the chest, and a contrasting dark cap on their head. They are medium-sized birds, ranging between 14 to 20 inches in length, with females being notably larger than males. The hawk’s long tail and relatively short, rounded wings provide the maneuverability needed to navigate dense woodlands while hunting. This long, banded tail, which appears slightly rounded at the tip, helps differentiate it from the smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk. Although they prefer forested habitats across North America, they are highly adaptable and increasingly seen in urban and suburban environments.
Historical Decline and Recovery
The perception that the Cooper’s Hawk is threatened originated from a severe population crash in the mid-20th century. This decline was caused by the widespread use of organochlorine pesticides, primarily DDT, which decimated many raptor populations. DDT accumulated in the hawks’ tissues and interfered with calcium metabolism, causing females to lay eggs with shells too thin to survive incubation. This eggshell thinning resulted in widespread nesting failure and a dramatic drop in successful fledging. Following the ban of DDT in the United States in 1972, Cooper’s Hawk numbers began a slow but steady recovery, allowing the species to rebound to its current stable status.
Suburban Adaptation and Human Interaction
The modern success of the Cooper’s Hawk is tied to its exceptional adaptation to human-altered landscapes. These raptors have successfully colonized urban and suburban areas, utilizing parks and residential neighborhoods that offer abundant prey and suitable nesting trees. Urban areas provide a reliable food source, primarily consisting of small-to-medium-sized birds like European Starlings, Mourning Doves, and Rock Pigeons. The presence of backyard bird feeders creates a concentration of prey, which the hawks actively exploit. To encourage coexistence, homeowners can provide protective cover, such as dense brush piles, allowing smaller birds a place to escape attack.