Astur cooperii

(Bonaparte, 1828)

Vernacular names
English : Cooper’s hawk
French : Épervier de Cooper

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Accipitriformes
Family : Accipitridae
Notes : No subspecies known. Formerly placed in genus Accipiter.

Identification
Adults can reach 47 cm in length for a weight up to 700 g (breeding females). Long grey tail with black transversal bands, black cap, white face, bright red eyes, grey wings. Rest of plumage reddish-brown with white spots.

Range and habitat
The species occurs from south Canada to most of the USA and south to Mexico. Northern populations winter in Central America. Lives in forests and woodlands with dense canopy covers, suburban areas.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is locally very common but has suffered local declines because of use of pesticides and hunting. Most populations are recovering.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Wild (Brownsville TX, USA)

 

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