“August is the month of the high-sailing hawks. The hen hawk is the most noticeable. He likes the haze and calm of these long, warm days. He is a bird of leisure and seems always at his ease. How beautiful and majestic are his movements!”
John Burroughs
Ever since we moved to our new home, I have been enjoying the wildlife that appears right in my backyard. I can photograph wildlife from the comfort of our dining room, deck, and bedroom with strategically placed bird feeders.
Today, I introduce you to a Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii). This medium-sized hawk can be found all over the North American continent, from southern Canada to Mexico. It was named after ornithologist William Cooper in 1828. Cooper’s hawks are very agile, which makes them masters of aerial hunts. They usually prey on small-to-medium-sized birds and can catch them in flight. They can also hunt small mammals like squirrels (see last photo) and sometimes reptiles. I have photographed these hawks several times here in our backyard. The set I feature today was captured on the same day throughout various times, from morning to early evening.
The first image I obtained was in the morning after seeing this hawk flying right by the deck, where I was meditating. I then noticed another hawk in the trees. It was challenging to capture that image because of all the branches and leaves. However, using manual focus allowed me to zoom in on the eye of this immature hawk. Immature hawks have yellow eyes. Once they become adults, the eye color turns orange to red.
The image above was captured mid-afternoon. Walking by our bedroom window, I noticed the hawk sitting on the fence. It was about 6 feet (1.82 meters) away, just outside the window. I was surprised it allowed me to get close to the window and make this photo. Typically, these hawks are 14 to 20 inches (35.5 to 51.0 cm) long with a wingspan of 27 to 36 inches (68.5 to 91.5 cm). We can see the characteristics of an immature Cooper’s hawk here: eye color (yellow instead of orange to red) and brown feathers (instead of the gray/blue back in adults).
I saw this hawk’s hunting practices at the end of the day. I was caught off guard and did not have the proper shutter speed in my camera. At 1/125 seconds, I was lucky to get a few feathers in focus. However, you can see the squirrel in the hawk’s claws as it flies away.
Information for this post was obtained from Chattahoochee Nature Center and All About Birds websites.
Posted for I.J. Khanewala’s Birds of the Week Invitation LXXVII.
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Anne Sandler
How fortunate you are to have nature like this in your back yard Egidio. Beautiful photos.
Egidio Leitao
Anne, I do count my blessings. Thank you for your kind feedback.
Tranature - quiet moments in nature
Wonderful images Egidio and what a treat to be surrounded by such amazing wildlife! 😊
Egidio Leitao
Xenia, I am ecstatic to have this view and wildlife so close to home. Thanks for the feedback.
Aletta - nowathome
So wonderful that you can see these hawks from your new house Egidio! Beautifully captured!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Aletta. I appreciate your feedback.
Aletta - nowathome
You’re welcome 😁
I. J. Khanewala
What a handsome bird! Well captured
Egidio Leitao
So glad you liked it, I.J. Thanks.
solaner
The close-up is great 👍👍👍👍
Egidio Leitao
Thanks a bunch, André.
solaner
You‘re welcome 😊
Toonsarah
Fantastic photos, especially the one in the tree! How special to be able to observe such a bird from your own home 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Sarah. I also like that one in the tree. It shows the hawk in its natural environment. I’m lucky to be able to observe wildlife from the comfort of my home. Thanks, again.
Writing to Freedom
How wonderful to have hawks and other critters in your backyard!
Egidio Leitao
I’m thrilled for that, too, Brad. Thanks for writing.
Writing to Freedom
My pleasure.
margaret21
How wonderful! And you can really see this fabulous bird from the comfort of your own home? Wow!
Egidio Leitao
Indeed. Every time I see one, I just feel so grateful. Thanks for your comment.
PR
Wonderful!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much, PR.
Amy
This beauty was walking by your bedroom window… How wonderful!!
Egidio Leitao
Amy, ever since we moved here a little over a month ago, I have seen so much wildlife right from our backyard deck. I feel blessed. Thanks for the feedback.