Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper’s Hawks are members of the genus Accipiter, sharing that genus with two other forest-loving hawks, the Northern Goshawk and the Sharp-shinned Hawk. Cooper’s Hawks get their name from naturalist William Cooper, one of the founders of the New York Academy of Science.

Homeowners with bird feeders may notice that their feeders have become a birdy buffet, not just for the birds eating the birdseed, but for the birds that like to eat feeder birds! Cooper’s Hawks have learned to hang out near bird feeders and pick off the little birds that like to eat bird seed. This is why it is important to place bird feeders near cover, such as a bush or hedge, so that the little birds have a place to escape and hide from this quick and agile predator.