Female Cooper’s Hawks (Identification Guide)

Cooper’s Hawks belong to the genus chickpeas Widely distributed in North America, including Canada and Mexico. Unusually agile and agile, these compact, crow-sized hawks make their home in a variety of habitats, from mountains to semi-arid deserts.

Similar to most birds of prey, female Cooper’s hawks are much larger than males – here’s a guide for female Cooper’s hawks.

For starters, female Cooper’s hawks are much larger than males — 20 percent longer and 40 percent heavier. This is one of the most pronounced reverse sexual dimorphisms in all birds. Aside from size, male and female Cooper’s hawks look similar, though females are more brownish and gray, while males are usually a pale powder blue on their wings and back.

When it’s impossible to compare male and female body shapes, the next best thing to look at is the eyes. The eyes of male Cooper’s hawks are dark, usually dark orange, while the eyes of females are pale yellow or light orange. In some cases, the plumage of male birds is generally brighter than that of females, but plumage is not a consistent way of distinguishing birds.

Male and female Cooper’s hawks have many complex interactions, and their different behaviors make them easier to identify. Read on to learn more about female Cooper’s hawks and how to identify them from females.

Size is one of the best ways to differentiate male and female Cooper’s Hawks, females are much larger

What does a female Cooper’s hawk look like?

Adult Cooper’s hawks are medium-sized compact raptors with shorter wings. They are about the size of a large crow, although females can be 1/3 the size of males.

In terms of color and plumage, the upper wings and back of the Cooper’s hawk are brownish-gray to blue. Their heads and crests are very square and consist of dark brown or black plumage topped by a light nape and neck. The chest and udder are lighter in color with brown streaks. The tail has 3 black stripes, but lighter than the back.

Female Cooper’s hawks are distinguished from males by their considerable size and slightly less pronounced plumage, although this does vary. The back of a female Cooper’s hawk is usually gray or brown, less likely blue. Some male eagles have powder blue backs, while females have none at all. The bust may also be brighter and more defined.

In general, female Cooper’s hawks are larger and more brownish-gray in color than blue males. Also, females have lighter eyes, more yellow than orange. Adult males, on the other hand, have dark orange eyes.

cooper hawk on the ground

Are female Cooper hawks bigger than males?

Unlike most birds, female raptors are usually larger than males, and the Cooper’s hawk is no exception.

Female Cooper hawks are 1/3 bigger than males. They are about 20% longer than 40% of their weight, and when males and females are side by side, the difference is hard to ignore. This is one of the most prolific examples of antisexual dimorphism.

The overall length of an adult Cooper’s hawk is 35 to 46 cm (14 to 18 inches) for males and 42 to 50 cm (17 to 20 inches) for females. Wingspan is between 62 and 99 cm (24 and 39 in). One study found that males weighed an average of about 280 grams (9.9 ounces), while females weighed about 473 grams (1.043 pounds). There was little overlap between males and females – females were consistently larger regardless of regional differences.

What is the female Cooper’s hawk called?

The female Cooper’s hawk has no specific name.

Juvenile Cooper Hawk in flight

How do you know if a Cooper’s hawk is male or female?

The main way to tell if a Cooper’s hawk is male or female is by comparing their sizes. Females are much larger than males, and their size and weight ranges have little overlap even when regional differences are taken into account.

In addition to their large size, male Cooper’s hawks have brighter and more contrasting plumage than females. They’re also more likely to be blue-gray than brown. This suggests that sexual dimorphism in Cooper’s hawks may have evolved to improve female survival, since males still have brighter plumage to attract females.

Other Differences Between Male and Female Cooper’s Hawks

Besides size, there are some other ways to distinguish male and female Cooper’s hawks, especially through some behaviors exhibited.

Below, we’ll go into more detail about other ways to differentiate the two.

Close up portrait of Cooper Hawk

breeding and nesting

Male Cooper’s hawks are submissive to females when forming pair bonds. Instead of directly approaching females, females will sing a reassuring song to nearby males to signal their willingness to be approached.

Males usually bow after a complex in-flight courtship ritual. Once bonded, the male will build most of the nest as part of courtship. In Wisconsin, males built about 70 percent of the nests, and females provided some materials and inspected the structure.

Males fly to females to mate. After mating, the female will be ready to lay her eggs while the male starts hunting. The female incubates the eggs while the male hunts, and once hatched, the female and the chicks feed. Once the chicks are more than a few weeks old, the females also join in the hunt. The roles are sometimes reversed—one study found that the males control the hatching for short periods of time, while the females are in charge of the hunt.

The female Cooper’s hawk shreds up the prey that the male brings and feeds it whole to her chicks. The female’s larger beak makes her more efficient at shredding prey, which is thought to be one of the reasons why females are larger than males.

Close-up of a nesting Cooper Hawk

hunt

Female hawks are dominant and hunt different prey than males. Females are able to hunt larger prey such as larger birds and land mammals.

This confers a survival advantage, as male and female cooper’s hawks have less competition for food and are able to diversify their hunting to take advantage of the resources available in their habitat.

voice and call

The female Cooper’s hawk has more than 40 vocalizations and calls, which is quite impressive among birds of prey. In contrast, males have about 20 calls, many of which are quieter and higher-pitched than females. This is different from birds that do not undergo reverse sexual dimorphism — typically males sing more often than females.

Female Cooper’s hawks are louder and harsher than higher-pitched males. They have a number of distinctive calls, including a softer, more reassuring call that signals to males that they are ready to mate.

Overall, the female leads the communication among Cooper’s hawks, directing the male in various tasks related to breeding and raising chicks.

Cooper’s hawk with freshly caught prey

migrant

In some studies, female Cooper’s hawks tend to migrate first, about a week earlier than males.

Can a female Cooper’s hawk raise her offspring alone?

Female Cooper’s hawks rely on the close cooperation of males to raise their offspring.

The male builds most of the nest and guards it during incubation. When the female hatches, the male provides food for her and the hatched chicks. The male helps raise the chicks until independence.

If the male eagle dies at some point during incubation, the nest is less likely to be successful.

Can a female Cooper’s hawk call?

Female Cooper’s hawks call about twice as many as males. Women’s voices are also louder, deeper and harsher.

Females lead the communication among Cooper’s hawks, especially during the breeding season.

One of the most distinctive female calls is Wow, which the female uses to signal to the male that she or the chicks need food.Males also have some specific calls, including high-pitched kik He uses it to find his mate.