Home - Garden
Why You’ll Want To Keep Cooper’s Hawk Birds Out Of Your Yard
By MICHAEL ALEXANDER UCCELLO
As a medium-sized raptor native to North America, Cooper’s hawks are graceful birds of prey. Although
they are admirable, their consistent presence in your yard can be frightening.
For homeowners who maintain bird feeders to attract and nurture songbirds, a lurking Cooper's hawk
can transform this peaceful setting into a hunting ground.
Watching Cooper’s hawks prey on songbirds can be distressing since they capture their prey with their sharp talons and strangle or drown them, then eat them only after they die.
When its typical prey of medium-sized birds goes scarce, the adaptable Cooper’s hawk can switch its diet, raiding nests or hunting mammals such as hares, mice, squirrels, and bats.
Regular predation by Cooper's hawks may result in decreased numbers of certain species, especially the most frequent bird visitors to your yard.
During high-speed pursuits, Cooper’s hawks might mistake window reflections of trees or the sky as open pathways, which can lead
to window collisions and damage to your property.
The heightened protectiveness of Cooper’s hawks can cause them to view humans or even larger pets as potential threats, and as a result, they might display aggressive behaviors.
The aftermath of a Cooper’s hawk’s hunt is often evidenced by scattered feathers or remains. These remnants may attract scavengers or disturb those with a sensitive disposition.