COOPERS HAWK. 



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CuLOR. A(/u/t mate. Above, ineluiJin!; secondaries and upper wing coverts, slaty-lilue, darkest on the head, with ter- 

 tiiu-ies ?:potted on hoth webs, and primaries and secondaries Ijarred on inner webs, with white, also the base of featliers on 

 occijiut, white. Primaries, brown, and, witli the secondaries, are barred on both welis with dark-brown. Tail, ashy-brown, 

 tipped witli white and barred with dark-brown. Beneath, including under wing coverts, tibia, and under tail coverts, 

 wldte, t!ie former, spotted with dark-brown and the latter, immaculate, but all the remaining feathers below have a narrow, 

 central line of dark-brown and are transversely banded, excepting on throat, witli reddish-hro^m. 



Adult female. Quite similar to the male in general coloration but lighter above, where the feathers show central linos 

 <if darker, and the tints below arc much lighter. 



Ynunij. Bniwner above tlian in the female and there are some traces of yellowish-rufous on the head and neck. Lon- 

 gitudinally streaked below with dark yellowish-brown. 



Youny of the year. Dark-brown above, with every feather edged with reddish. Themarkings below are also broader 

 and darker. Otherwise similar to the above. 



Nestlings. Are at first covered with a pale reddish do\vn, then gradually assume the plumage last described which 

 they keep fur a year. Bill, dark-brown, bluish at ba.se, cere, greenish, feet, yellow, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Although specimens of the same age are quite uniform in pattern of coloration, they vary somewhat in tintings, rspe- 

 oially b^-low. Known from the closely allied fuscus, by the larger size, shorter tarsus, and comparatively short middle toe 

 whic!) only about equals in length the hind toe and claw, and from all others, by the short wings, long tail, and colors as 

 described. Distributed as a summer resident, throughout temperate North America. Winters in the portions south of 

 latitude 42'. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of luale specimens from Eastern North America. Length, IT'OO; stretch, 28-CO; win;.', 9-50: 

 tail, 8-2.'); l>ill, 'do; taisus, 2'.55. Longest specimen. 18-00; greatest extent of wing, 29'0i), longest wing, 10-00; tail, 8 50; 

 bill, -70; tarsus, 2-60. Shortest specimen, 16-00: smallest extent of wing, 27-00; shortest wing, 900; tail, 8 CO; bill, -GO; 

 tarsus, 2-50. 



Average measurements of female specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 19-00; stretch, 30-00; wing. lO-.W; 

 tail, 8-95; bill, •70; tarsu.s, 2-65. Longest specimen, 20 00; greatest extent of wing, 31-00; longest wing, U 00; tail, 9-75; 

 bill, "71; tarsus, 2-70. Shortest specimen, 18-00; smallest extent of wing, 29-00; shortest wing, 10-00; tail, 8-10; hill, -t>9; 

 tarsus, 2-50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, usually placed in high trees. They are somewhat bulky structures, composed of sticks, lined with strips of bark, 

 leaves, weetls, and grass. 



E(/i/s, from two to four in number, rather spherical in form, ])ale bluish-white in color, usually spotted with pale reddisli- 

 brown. Dimensions from l-90x 150 to 2-lOx 1-60. 



HABITS. 



Cooper's Hawks are not only similar to the Sharp-shins in color and general form, but 

 also closely resemble them in flight; so closely, in fact, that it is often quite ilifficult to 

 decitle to which species a particular specimen belongs when seen upon the wing at a dis- 

 tance. This similarity, however, is not as noticeable in the habits of the two species; it 

 is true, that both exhibit the same rapidity of movement and both are equally bold in their 

 fortiys upon the poultry-yard, but in this respect, the species now under consideration, 

 must bear away the palm, for their larger size and comparatively greater strength enable 

 them to not only ciipture the young fowls and hens but the lord of the seraglio. Chanti- 

 cleer, himself, is not safe from their attacks, for his attempts to punish the bold intruders, 

 are too often met with defeat and his lifeless body is born iiway to the nearest thicket to 

 bt; devoured by the conquering Hawk. 



When hunting for prey. Cooper's Htiwks fly, as a rule, rather higher than the Sharp- 

 shins but when they perceive their booty, they dart down upon it with almost incredible 

 speed, generally striking with a certain aim. Thus they scour woodland, plain, and river 



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