The Cooper’s Hawk was often called the chicken hawk or hen hawk, especially during colonial times, because it so commonly preyed on chickens being raised on farms. It was officially named the Cooper’s Hawk in 1828 by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in honor of his friend William Cooper.The nickname “chicken hawk” stuck around for a long time afterward, however.
They are aggressive and bold. They use many different methods when hunting, depending on the prey. Sometimes they chase aerial prey, following every twist and turn with stunning agility. Other times they attack in short, direct flights, and still other times they chase they prey through thick vegetation, pursuing relentlessly.
Birds are the Cooper’s Hawk’s favorite food. So much so that for much of American history they were known as chicken hawks. Medium sized birds are preferentially targeted over small birds, and chickens make an easy meal for them. Bats are also a common prey item, and the hawk’s speed and agility make it relatively easy for them to catch bats- some hawks experience a 90% success rate when hunting bats.
Cooper’s Hawks can fly at high speed, often cruising at over 50mph. Their top speed is difficult to measure, since they typically hunt while flying through dense vegetation. In fact, many adult Cooper’s Hawks show evidence of numerous bone fractures in their chest and wings that result from striking trees and bushes at top speed.
These hawks have blue-gray coloring on their backs, with pale underparts that have red-brown barring. Adults have striking, reddish eyes. The tail is white with two thick, dark bars.
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