Cooper’s Hawk

Astur cooperii

Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii) — Birds of Prey of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Ontario

By family

Hawks, Eagles & Kites of Canada Hawks, Eagles & Kites of the United States Hawks, Eagles & Kites of Alberta Hawks, Eagles & Kites of British Columbia Hawks, Eagles & Kites of Manitoba Hawks, Eagles & Kites of New Brunswick Hawks, Eagles & Kites of Newfoundland and Labrador Hawks, Eagles & Kites of Nova Scotia Hawks, Eagles & Kites of Northwest Territories Hawks, Eagles & Kites of Ontario

See what's near you right now

The Cooper’s Hawk (Astur cooperii) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America.

We’re still expanding this profile. Verified detail — diet, behaviour, identification and more — is added as our editors and reviewers complete it.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Accipitriformes
Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
Genus Astur
Species cooperii

Where it lives

Southern Canada to Honduras

Quick facts

Family: Accipitridae
Order: Accipitriformes

How to identify

Main colours Grey Red White

Male vs female

Sexes look essentially alike in pattern; adult males average bluer-gray above (rarely near powder-blue) with darker orange-to-red eyes, while females average browner/grayer above with paler eyes, though the plumage differences are subtle and females are notably larger.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles are brown above with a brown (not blackish) crown, whitish underparts marked with neat dark-brown streaking, and yellow eyes.

Biology & behaviour

The Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii) is a species of kites, hawks, eagles in the family Accipitridae, order Accipitriformes. It is found in North America, Central America & Caribbean — s Canada to Honduras.