Backyard Cooper's Hawk

[tomjudd]

I seem to have had quite a few encounters with young Cooper's Hawks in our back yard this winter. Here's the latest from today.

I love the fierce "I could swoop down and rip you to shreds if I wanted to" look in his eyes.

Enjoy!

Tom

[T. David Griffith]

Excellent shot.

We have several Cooper's Hawks that visit our backyard rather infrequently. We know we are seeing at least three because one was in its juvenile plumage through last spring. The other two adults had different breast feathers.

We have seen a few attacks, usually of a dove. But, we have never witnessed a kill though we have found dove feathers remaining on the ground.

[tomjudd]

I did see a Cooper's with a dove pinned to the ground under our bird feeder last year as I drove into our garage. When I exited the garage the hawk took off with the dove in it's grasp and flew to a neaby tree limb. It then left the area altogether still carrying the unlucky dove with it. This year I have seen a few scattered feathers in the back yard on occasion and
quite a few Cooper's Hawks. Probably one a week. Could be repeat visits from the same youngster, I suppose.