Weekend Birding: Cooper’s Hawk
This hawk has been visiting my backyard for a few months now. She was sitting on the fence a few feet from the bird bath. I am fairly certain this is a young female. Females are much larger than males. Young Cooper’s Hawks have yellow eyes; as they age their eyes turn red.
Normally a woodland bird, many of them now venture into suburban backyards in search of prey. In addition to medium-sized birds they also eat small animals such as mice, squirrels and chipmunks. They are beautiful to watch as they swoop down from high in the trees.
Interesting fact via All About Birds: Males tend to be submissive to females and to listen out for reassuring call notes the females make when they’re willing to be approached. Males build the nest, then provide nearly all the food to females and young.
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I’m participating in Saturday Snapshots this weekend. Head on over to At Home With Books to see more great photos.
Under My Apple Tree 
I’ve never heard of a bird’s eyes changing colors before – that’s neat.
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That’s just beautiful. We’ve had a hawk land on our deck a couple of times but it’s always flown away before I could get my camera.
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This hawk was there at least five minutes and didn’t care at all that I kept creeping closer and closer to get a better shot. I suppose with those claws and that beak I was the one that should have run away.
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This hawk is picture perfect! I enjoyed reading about the characteristics of male hawks. 🙂
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We just bought a new camera! I am so excited to try it out on my neighborhood birds. This hawk is gorgeous! Wow…thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
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ow, what a fabulous capture Leslie.
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what a noble looking bird. I like that ‘submissive to females’ part too 😉
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OMG, what a beautiful picture you took. So majestic.
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What a wonderful bird picture.
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Great photo. Wonderful that you have her in your yard…unless she is scaring other birds away?
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She scares them away but they come back in a few hours.
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