coopers hawk

A juvenile Cooper's Hawk panicking the birds at the bird feeders in our yard

Juvenile female Cooper's Hawk

A female Cooper's Hawk finds a spot to call out to her mate during a game of hide n seek I had the pleasure to witness. :)

Playing hide n' seek with me and it's mate.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk

taken at 1/2000 F/6.5 at ISO 1600 at 428.4mm

meal done

protecting its meal

juvie screaming up a storm

Coopers Hawk - back yard

Just another...

Coopers Hawk - 2

All the feeding activity in the yard has attracted the female Coopers hawk. I get one of these every winter. This is one of the largest females (females run larger than males, as a general rule) that I've ever recorded.

Just another...

While watching my backyard birds this morning I was shocked to see this visitor. I was so excited to see this Coopers Hawk visit my backyard. Needless to say, the small birds disappeared for a while!

Nice tone-on-tone image; in late afternoon light.

This is a large bird, so in all likelihood it is a female. Once again, it is that time of year when all of the activity in the yard attracts raptors: she is no exception.

A first winter bird that has migrated into the area. It has taken up residence near my yard, obviously to take advantage of all of the birds feeding in the yard. This is the most crucial time for young raptors. Either they learn to hone their hunting skills this winter or they most likely will...

It's that time again. The winter migrants are arriving; white crowns, golden crowns, fox sparrows etc., and along with them the Coopers hawk. This bird arrived about a week and a half ago, and already has established my yard as part of it's territory. Certain to get more images of it.

Taken in the local camp grounds...

Has been in the area since November. Has taken many a yard bird: it is what it is.

I can't be certain about the ID. The Red-shouldered is only an inch larger and the juvies look similar. I went with the Coopers because I see very little yellow at the base of the bill. Also, the bars on the tail seem more like the Cooper's. The bird never flew.

This is an adult bird, as designated by the blood-red eye. The juvenile birds have a dark brown to pale orange eye, and don't have the uniform gray coloring to the flight feathers. Instead, the over-all coloring of the juvenile will be brown with white spots, giving them a spotted appearance...

Still raiding the yard...

Second in series...