38 THE HAWKS AND OWLS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



COOPER'S HAWK. 



Accipiter cooperi. 

 [Plate 6— Adnlt.] 



Cooper's Hawk, which resembles the Sharp-shinned Hawk closely in 

 everything except size, is less northern in its distribution. It inhabits 

 the whole of North America from the southern portion of the British 

 provinces throughout the United States and the greater part of Mex- 

 ico. It winters regularly from about latitude 40° southward, though 

 occasionally it is seen at this time of the year in southern Canada, It 

 breeds throughout its range, and is common everywhere in suitable 

 localities. 



The food of this Hawk, like that of its smaller congener, consists 

 almost entirely of wild birds and poultry, though from its superior size 

 and strength it is able to cope successfally with much larger birds, 

 and hence is much more to be dreaded. Besides birds, it occasionally 

 captures smaU mammals, reptiles, batrachians, and insects. Mr. Cal- 

 vin Eawsou saw one of these Hawks make a bold dash at a muskrat, 

 but it was unsuccessful in the capture. (Ornith. and Oologist, vol., 

 VI, 1881, p. 74.) From the following quotation by Mr. Charles F. 

 Morrison, it would appear that in Colorado it feeds more extensively 

 on insects than in most parts of the country: "It preys upon grouse, 

 hares, and reptiles. Its fondness for the ranchman's poultry is very 

 nearly paid for by the insects it eats; both this and the preceding 

 adding grasshoppers and bugs to their bill of fare." (Ornith. and 

 Oologist, vol. XIV, 1889, p. 7.) 



Mr. W. E. Clyde Todd, of Beaver, Pa., furnishes the following note 

 on this Hawk : " The crops and stomachs of five young, stiU in the 

 down, which were taken from a nest in the top of a tulip tree on July 8, 

 1891, contained among other things not identified, the remains of a brown 

 thrasher and light-colored flesh, evidently that of a young ruffed 

 grouse, of which there was a covey in the same woods." 



Cooper's Hawk is very destructive to domesticated pigeons, and 

 when it finds a cote which is easy of approach, is very troublesome. 

 Dr. William C. Avery, of Greensboro, Ala., informs us that during one 

 year he kUled and wounded at least a dozen of these Hawks before the 

 inroads among his doves ceased. Among the smaller birds, this Hawk 

 is very fond of meadowlarks, robins, and flickers. The writer on sev- 

 eral occasions has secured specimens in hot pursuit of the last named 

 bird, which gave expression to their alarm by loud and continued cries. 

 Poultry of all kinds form a very large part of its food. Dr. Warren 

 states that a pair of these Hawks destroyed some fifty chickens from 

 one farm, twelve of which were taken in a single day. The writer knew 



