Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Description
Cooper's Hawks are medium-sized hawks with short wings and a long, rounded tail. Females are significantly larger than males. Adults have a blue-gray back and wings, while their chest and throat are white with reddish brown bars. Juveniles have brown feathers on their back and wings with brown streaks on their chest. They also lack the red-orange eyes of adults. These birds are commonly mistaken for Sharp-shinned Hawks.
Diet
Small to medium-sized birds and small rodents make up the majority of their diet.
Migration
Cooper's Hawks can be found in Colorado year-round. Some populations live in the mountains throughout the spring and summer months, then overwinter in the plains. Others remain in the plains year-round.
Breeding
Cooper's Hawks typically build a new nest each year in the same general breeding territory. Clutch size is three to five eggs. Young fledge four to five weeks after hatching.