It’s in your nature: Cooper’s hawks

During the Times News region’s coldest months, the number of hawks to be observed generally drops. The broad-winged hawks have migrated to the tropics, many of the kestrels find snow-covered fields harder to find mice so they’ve moved farther south for some better feeding opportunities. In your travels, one species of hawk often seen is the red-tailed hawk perched on roadside posts or utility poles. They too may not be the same birds you saw during the summer but were replaced by “redtails” from New York or maybe New England. Nevertheless, “redtails” are tough birds and seem to find enough food to overwinter here.

The other hawk species rather common here in winter is the Cooper’s hawk. “Coops” are the second largest of the accipiter hawks. These are the type of hawks with streamlined bodies and shorter wings. They have adapted this way to dart through the forests, chasing their usual prey, other birds. Sharp-shinned hawks are the smallest of the accipiters, while the largest is the rather rare goshawk. Goshawks do overwinter here but seldom leave the deeper forest areas.

Cooper’s hawks though are rather common and more visible. These are most likely the hawks you see patrolling near your bird feeders. They have become a bit more common and more tolerant of humans. I even watched one perched in a tree in downtown Allentown keeping track of the bird activity in a small, grassy plot nearby. A few minutes later it scattered the flock of starlings but came up “empty-handed.”

Since a population drop, especially in the ’60s, migration records in the east recently have shown an increase in their numbers. DDT use ending, a better tolerance for bird-eating hawks by hunters, and probably a tremendous increase in people feeding winter birds have all been contributing factors.

It may surprise you that a female Cooper’s hawk is about 1 inch smaller than the commonly seen “redtail.” But remember, the accipiters, like the “Coops” have much shorter wings and proportionately longer tail to better maneuver through the trees while chasing birds. For example, a red-tailed hawk, only an inch longer than the Cooper’s, has a wingspan over 50 inches. “Coops” have a wingspan of about 30 inches. I’ve referred to the female’s size because sexual dimorphism (difference in size between males and females) is quite evident in the accipiters. A male Cooper’s hawk is about 3 inches smaller than his mate.

Males build the nest, which is usually in a tree fork over 25 feet from the ground. The female will lay two to six eggs and incubate them while her mate supplies her with food. The eggs hatch in about five weeks, and the nestlings remain in the nest about the same length of time.

Studies have shown that they eat few small birds, but starlings, mourning doves, pigeons, robins and occasionally a small mammal or two make up their diet. Smaller birds (warblers, chickadees, etc.) are more likely prey for the robin-sized sharp-shinned hawk.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: Wood thrushes, once serenading us every morning from May through July, have seen their populations drop ____ percent since 1980. A. 80, B. 60, C. 25, D. 10.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Juneberry is another name of the serviceberry. They bloom before most leaves are on the trees and thus bear fruit early in June.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.