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Cooper's Hawk Identification

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The Four Keys to ID

  • Size & Shape

    A medium-sized hawk with the classic accipiter shape: broad, rounded wings and a very long tail. In Cooper’s Hawks, the head often appears large, the shoulders broad, and the tail rounded.

    Relative Size

    Larger than a Sharp-shinned Hawk and about crow-sized, but males can be much smaller.

    Relative Sizecrow sizedcrow-sized

    Measurements
    • Male
      • Length: 14.6-15.3 in (37-39 cm)
      • Weight: 7.8-14.5 oz (220-410 g)
      • Wingspan: 24.4-35.4 in (62-90 cm)
    • Female
      • Length: 16.5-17.7 in (42-45 cm)
      • Weight: 11.6-24.0 oz (330-680 g)
      • Wingspan: 29.5-35.4 in (75-90 cm)

Regional Differences

Cooper’s Hawks from western North America are substantially smaller (weighing around one-fifth less) than birds in the East.