Cooper’s Hawk Nesting (All You Need To Know)

Cooper Hawk (Furutaka) is a medium-sized eagle belonging to the genus chickpeas Lives in the US, Canada and Mexico. These compact hawks are very fast and agile and have a varied diet that includes a variety of mammals, birds and reptiles. Here is a guide to Cooper’s Eagle’s Nest.

Cooper’s hawks nest in a variety of environments, but they generally prefer coniferous and deciduous woodlands. Nests are built on the branches of large trees with a height of about 8m to 15m. The nest itself is usually quite large, up to 45 cm (17.7 in) deep and 76 cm (37.7 in) wide.

While Cooper’s hawks typically nest in woodland environments, they are quite mobile and some odd nests have been observed, such as one built from grape vines and one made almost entirely of Spanish moss.

Both males and females build nests, but the males tend to do most of the building work (about 70 percent in one study). Most cooper’s hawks build new nests each year, but some are reused each breeding season.

Read on to learn more about the fascinating nesting habits of these famous American hawks!

Close-up of a cooper’s eagle’s nest with chicks resting on a branch

Where do Cooper’s Hawks nest?

Cooper’s hawks primarily nest in coniferous and deciduous woodlands, and their preferences vary by region.

For example, one study showed that about 70 percent of nests in Tuscon were built on eucalyptus, and 58 percent of nests in Massachusetts, 51 percent in Missouri, and 81 percent in Illinois were on pine.

In the East, nests are predominantly in deciduous trees, including in New York, Maryland, and Florida, where most of the hawks’ nests are in oak trees.

Dense woodlands and mature trees are preferred, but some nests are built on isolated single trees, for example, in the middle of parks or golf courses.

Cooper’s hawks also prefer dense canopy cover, with some exceptions, such as when they nest in bare trees in semi-arid environments. Some odd nests have been observed, including one made mostly of Spanish moss and one built on vines.

When Cooper’s hawks nest on slopes, they tend to avoid south-facing slopes, probably because they get too hot or dry.

Cooper’s hawks also nest in rural, semi-urban and urban environments, where they have become more common in recent years. For example, in the 1990s, Cooper’s hawks accounted for only 30 percent of the downtown area around Chicago, but in recent years it has increased to more than 70 percent.

Cooper’s Hawk chicks in their woodland nest

What does Cooper’s Eagle’s Nest look like?

Cooper’s eagle’s nest forms a large platform with a maximum depth of 45 cm (17.7 in) and a maximum width of 76 cm (37.7 in). The nest is made of twigs with a cup-shaped depression.

Some nests are lined with green leaves or bark, usually transported to the nest by the female and placed at the end of the building process.

The resulting structures are very extensive, especially when built among large deciduous trees. Nests on conifers are smaller, probably because there is not enough room to build a larger nest.

Closeup of an adult Cooper’s hawk perched on a branch

How big is Cooper’s Eagle’s Nest?

Considering the bird’s size, the Cooper’s Eagle’s nest is large, measuring 61 to 76 centimeters (24 to 30 inches) wide and 15 to 45 centimeters (5.9 to 17.7 inches) deep. Nests on conifers are usually smaller, about 15 to 20 cm (5.9 to 7.9 inches) in size.

Nests are also larger in the northern and eastern parts of the bird’s range, possibly because eastern Cooper’s hawks are larger than western Cooper’s hawks and thus require larger nests. However, nest size is flexible and depends on the tree species available.

What time of year do Cooper’s Hawks nest?

Cooper’s hawks typically nest in late winter or early spring, from late February to March. Depending on the region, female Cooper’s hawks typically lay their eggs between March and May.

There are some reports of Cooper’s hawks nesting in the fall or during the non-breeding season. Most of the time, however, nesting begins two weeks before mating.

Nesting Cooper’s hawk feeding chicks in nest

How do Cooper’s Hawks build their nests?

Cooper’s hawks choose an efficient nesting site before the spring breeding season. The male then begins to store materials near the nest and is responsible for most of the building process.

Females often “check” the nest throughout construction, which takes about two weeks. Additionally, the female occasionally assists with construction, especially towards the end of the construction process, when the bark needs to be used to line the cups.

Nests are built out of twigs and twigs, with occasional loose leaves scattered for a rainy day.

When does Little Cooper’s eagle leave the nest?

Baby Cooper’s hawks rapidly grow and feather when they are 27 to 32 days old. Young eagles stay near the nest for two to three weeks before returning to the roost to feed.

After about two months, young hawks are completely independent from their parents. This is relatively quick for hawks — some young hawks are dependent on their parents for longer.

recent fledgling young cooper hawk

How many litters does Cooper’s Hawks have?

Cooper’s hawks have a brood of 2 to 4 chicks, assuming all eggs hatch. About 74 percent of the eggs hatch, and 50 to 70 percent of the nests are successful. If a nest fails, all eggs are lost.

One study found that 86 percent of nests produced at least one chick, but most successful nests produced 1 to 3 chicks, and very few produced 4 or 5.

What do Cooper’s eagle eggs look like?

Cooper’s eagle eggs are about 2 inches long by 1.5 inches wide and are light blue or bluish-white in color with small translucent light brown spots. Some eggs are dirty white without any other markings.

Close-up of Cooper Hawk

Do Cooper’s Hawks nest in the same place every year?

Cooper’s hawks typically return to the same breeding grounds each year after migrating, but often build a new nest.

However, several studies have found that Cooper’s hawks reused nests, including one pair that was reused by a pair of hawks four years in a row.

There is little evidence of when and why a pair of Cooper hawks chose to reuse their nests rather than build new ones. Perhaps the strongest and most stable nests in favorable circumstances are reused.

What month do Cooper’s Hawks lay eggs?

Cooper’s hawks spawn between mid-March and late May, rarely late.

In Florida, Arizona, California, New York and Ohio, most cooper’s hawks lay their eggs in late April. In Ontario, Wisconsin, and Oregon, spawning usually occurs in early May. Young immature females usually spawn later than females.

Close-up of juvenile Cooper’s Hawk

Are Cooper’s Hawks nesting in the backyard?

While Cooper’s hawks prefer dense wild woodlands usually isolated from humans, their presence in semi-urban and urban areas is increasing.

Cooper’s hawks are not uncommon in backyards across the United States, and are not always a favorite of homeowners due to their tendency to hunt small birds.

Will Cooper’s hawks abandon their nests?

A few days after the chicks hatch, the adult Cooper’s hawk is not necessarily in the nest 24/7. Instead, both parents may hunt simultaneously, leaving the chick inside the nest for short periods of time.

Males hunt continuously during this time, and females only join in when food supplies run low.

Studies have shown that human destruction of nests sometimes results in temporary abandonment, which causes a small proportion of nests to fail (1.2% in the study).

common problem

Do Cooper’s Hawks use nest boxes?

Cooper’s hawks do not nest in hollows and do not use nest boxes. Instead, they may use the nesting platforms provided for other raptors.

Where do Cooper’s hawks nest at night?

Cooper’s hawks perch high in deciduous and coniferous trees. There is no evidence that they cohabitate.

In what tree do Cooper’s Hawks nest?

Cooper hawks love deciduous and coniferous trees such as pine, oak, fir, beech, and spruce.