Over the past few days, eery cries have been ringing through our neighborhood in central Missouri, often beginning just after sunrise. Their source is a pair of Cooper's hawks, swooping among the trees and perhaps beginning to nest in our neighbor's large walnut tree.
As occurs in most raptor species, the female is significantly larger than her mate but both are easily identified by their accipiter features, including a long, banded tail. These hunters feed primarily on mid-sized birds (jays, doves, flickers) but will also take smaller prey. Nevertheless, the songbirds in our yard appear to be relatively unfazed by their presence.
Permanent residents throughout most of the U.S., those that breed across Canada and the northern latitudes of our country generally migrate to warmer climes in winter. Cooper's hawks once favored mature forest but have adapted well to human activity, now nesting and hunting in the open woodlands of river valleys, abandoned farmlands and suburbs.
As occurs in most raptor species, the female is significantly larger than her mate but both are easily identified by their accipiter features, including a long, banded tail. These hunters feed primarily on mid-sized birds (jays, doves, flickers) but will also take smaller prey. Nevertheless, the songbirds in our yard appear to be relatively unfazed by their presence.
Permanent residents throughout most of the U.S., those that breed across Canada and the northern latitudes of our country generally migrate to warmer climes in winter. Cooper's hawks once favored mature forest but have adapted well to human activity, now nesting and hunting in the open woodlands of river valleys, abandoned farmlands and suburbs.
