Like most related hawks, Cooper's hawks prefer to nest in tall trees with extensive canopy cover and can commonly produce up to two to four fledglings depending on conditions. This species primarily hunts small-to-medium-sized birds, but will also commonly take small mammals and sometimes reptiles. Many of the names applied to the Cooper's hawks refer to their ability to hunt large and evasive prey using extremely well-developed agility. Other common names for the Cooper's hawk include: big blue darter, chicken hawk, flying cross, hen hawk, quail hawk, striker, and swift hawk. The species was named in 1828 by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in honor of his friend and fellow ornithologist, William Cooper. It is easily confused with the smaller but similar sharp-shinned hawk. The birds found east of the Mississippi River tend to be larger on average than the birds found to the west. As in many birds of prey, the male is smaller than the female. This species is a member of the genus Accipiter, sometimes referred to as true hawks, which are famously agile, relatively small hawks common to wooded habitats around the world and also the most diverse of all diurnal raptor genera.
Cooper's hawk ( Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized hawk native to the North American continent and found from southern Canada to Mexico.
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