Cooper’s hawks are a medium-sized hawk species found throughout North America. They are adept woodland hunters, specializing in capturing smaller birds in flight. Cooper’s hawks play an important role as a mesopredator in many ecosystems. However, some populations have experienced declines in recent decades due to habitat loss and other factors. This has led to questions around how rare or common Cooper’s hawks currently are.
Cooper’s Hawk Description
Cooper’s hawks (Accipiter cooperii) are medium-sized hawks that are between 14 to 20 inches in length with a wingspan ranging from 24 to 35 inches. Adult Cooper’s hawks have blue-gray upperparts, reddish bars on their undersides, and reddish eyes. Their tails are long with dark bands.
Juvenile Cooper’s hawks have brown upperparts with white streaks and underneath are white with reddish-brown streaks. Their eyes are yellow. As juveniles mature, their plumage gradually changes to the colors of adult hawks.
Male and female Cooper’s hawks look similar, but females are larger in size. Females weigh between 22 to 35 ounces, while males weigh 14 to 22 ounces. The size difference allows male and female Cooper’s hawks to hunt different sized prey.
Cooper’s Hawk Population Size and Distribution
Cooper’s hawks are found across much of North America. Their breeding range extends from southern Canada throughout the United States into Mexico. They can be found as far north as Alaska and all provinces of Canada during warmer months.
Their wintering range concentrates along the southern United States, southern Mexico, and Central America. However, some Cooper’s hawks overwinter in northern parts of their breeding range as well.
Estimating the total global population of Cooper’s hawks is challenging. They are common in some regions and rare in others across their widespread range. The global population is estimated to be around 700,000 to 3.5 million mature individuals.
In the United States, Partners in Flight estimates there are about 2 million Cooper’s hawks. They rate the species a 9 out of 20 on their Continental Concern Score, indicating they are not highly threatened currently.
Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data shows Cooper’s hawk populations declined at an average rate of 1.84% per year from 1966 to 2015 in the United States and Canada. However, their numbers have rebounded in recent decades due to recovery from DDT, increased urbanization, and forest regrowth. Over the past 10 years of BBS data (2005-2015), their populations increased by 2.06% per year.
Cooper’s Hawk Population By Region
Here is a breakdown of Cooper’s hawk breeding populations by region, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey:
Region | Estimated Population |
Eastern Breeding Bird Survey | 650,000 |
Western Breeding Bird Survey | 620,000 |
Alaska | 100,000 |
Canada | 250,000 |
Mexico | 300,000 (estimate) |
This data shows healthy populations numbering in the hundreds of thousands across much of North America, though total abundance decreases further north.
Conservation Status
The Cooper’s hawk is considered a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their global population numbers in the millions, and they have a widespread range across North and Central America.
While their numbers declined in the mid-1900s, likely due to pesticide use and habitat loss, they have rebounded in recent decades. Partners in Flight estimates their overall population trajectory is increasing.
Here is a summary of the Cooper’s hawk conservation status:
Organization | Status |
IUCN Red List | Least Concern |
Partners in Flight | Continental Concern Score: 9/20 (Low Vulnerability) |
COSEWIC | Not At Risk |
While not considered globally threatened, local populations may face threats from habitat loss and pesticides in some areas of their range. Overall, however, Cooper’s hawks remain a common to fairly common species through much of North America.
Population Threats
The largest historical threat to Cooper’s hawks was the pesticide DDT, which accumulated in the food chain and caused this species to experience reproductive issues and population declines. The banning of DDT allowed their numbers to recover to sustainable levels.
Today, habitat loss in both their breeding and wintering grounds is one of the largest threats facing Cooper’s hawks. As forested areas are logged or developed, it can reduce the habitat available to support breeding pairs.
Other threats include:
- Vehicle collisions – Cooper’s hawks are vulnerable to being hit by cars when hunting near roadsides
- Persecution – Some view Cooper’s hawks as a threat to songbird populations
- Climate change – Could affect prey populations and migration patterns
- Pesticides – New pesticides may still pose a poisoning risk
Managing forests sustainably, reducing vehicle speeds in key areas, and protecting habitat corridors will be important conservation measures for maintaining healthy Cooper’s hawk populations into the future.
Legal Protections
The Cooper’s hawk is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in both the United States and Canada. This makes it illegal to harm or kill Cooper’s hawks, collect their feathers, eggs and nests.
They are listed as a Species of Special Concern in some U.S. states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Montana, and New Mexico. This designation highlights the need to monitor Cooper’s hawk populations, even though they are not endangered overall.
How Rare are Cooper’s Hawks in the United States?
While Cooper’s hawks suffered significant declines in the mid-1900s, their populations have rebounded to secure levels over the past few decades. They are now common to fairly common in many areas, though their abundance varies across different regions.
According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, Cooper’s hawks are most abundant in these states:
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- New York
- Illinois
- Ohio
And less common in these western states:
- Nevada
- Arizona
- Utah
- Idaho
- Oregon
Their numbers also decrease in northern states closer to the edge of their breeding range, like Minnesota and Maine.
Overall, Cooper’s hawks remain secure across much of the lower 48 states, though localized populations may face pressure from habitat loss and other factors. They are considered rare in only a handful of states, mainly those in the arid west.
Cooper’s Hawk Abundance by State
Here is a table summarizing Cooper’s hawk abundance in each state, based on sightings data from eBird and state wildlife agencies:
State | Abundance |
---|---|
Alabama | Fairly Common |
Alaska | Rare |
Arizona | Uncommon |
Arkansas | Fairly Common |
California | Fairly Common |
Colorado | Fairly Common |
Connecticut | Very Common |
Delaware | Fairly Common |
Florida | Common |
Georgia | Common |
Hawaii | Not Found |
Idaho | Uncommon |
Illinois | Very Common |
Indiana | Common |
Iowa | Fairly Common |
Kansas | Common |
Kentucky | Fairly Common |
Louisiana | Fairly Common |
Maine | Uncommon |
Maryland | Common |
Massachusetts | Very Common |
Michigan | Common |
Minnesota | Fairly Common |
Mississippi | Common |
Missouri | Common |
Montana | Uncommon |
Nebraska | Fairly Common |
Nevada | Rare |
New Hampshire | Common |
New Jersey | Very Common |
New Mexico | Uncommon |
New York | Very Common |
North Carolina | Common |
North Dakota | Rare |
Ohio | Very Common |
Oklahoma | Common |
Oregon | Uncommon |
Pennsylvania | Very Common |
Rhode Island | Very Common |
South Carolina | Common |
South Dakota | Rare |
Tennessee | Common |
Texas | Fairly Common |
Utah | Uncommon |
Vermont | Common |
Virginia | Common |
Washington | Fairly Common |
West Virginia | Fairly Common |
Wisconsin | Common |
Wyoming | Uncommon |
This table summarizes relative abundance from very common to rare. Overall, Cooper’s hawks remain secure and widespread, though regional populations can fluctuate.
How Rare are Cooper’s Hawks in Canada?
The Cooper’s hawk breeds across Canada from coast to coast. According to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, Cooper’s hawks are most abundant in southern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime provinces.
Their numbers decrease moving west, with smaller populations in the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia. They are considered rare or accidental in far northern Canada.
Here is an overview of Cooper’s hawk abundance across Canadian provinces:
- Ontario – Common
- Quebec – Fairly common
- New Brunswick – Fairly common
- Nova Scotia – Fairly common
- Manitoba – Uncommon
- Saskatchewan – Uncommon
- Alberta – Uncommon
- British Columbia – Uncommon
- Yukon – Rare
- Northwest Territories – Accidental
- Nunavut – Accidental
- Newfoundland and Labrador – Accidental
Compared to the United States, Cooper’s hawks are rarer across much of Canada’s northern and western regions. However, healthy populations exist through southern Canada and the Maritimes, where breeding habitat is more abundant.
Cooper’s Hawk Population Trends in Canada
According to Breeding Bird Survey data, Cooper’s hawks showed significant population declines in Canada from 1970 to the mid-1990s. Their numbers reached a low point in the early 1990s, likely due to logging of mature forests.
However, over the past 20 years, BBS data shows Cooper’s hawks have rebounded at an average rate of 1.1% per year. Conservation measures, forest regrowth and increasing urbanization are likely aiding the recovery of Canadian populations.
While Cooper’s hawks are still more uncommon in Canada’s western provinces than in eastern Canada, their populations appear to be stable or increasing in most regions in recent years.
How Rare are Cooper’s Hawks in Mexico?
In Mexico, Cooper’s hawks are widely distributed but generally uncommon throughout most of the country. Their populations are concentrated in higher elevation forested areas which provide optimal breeding habitat.
The total breeding population in Mexico is very roughly estimated at 25,000 to 100,000 pairs. More study is needed on their abundance and distribution in Mexico.
Here is an overview of their abundance in different parts of Mexico:
- Northern Mexico – Uncommon resident and migrant
- Western Mexico – Fairly common resident
- Eastern Mexico – Uncommon resident
- Central Highlands – Fairly common resident
- Southern Mexico – Uncommon resident
- Baja California – Rare vagrant
Cooper’s hawks are most common in Mexico’s western and central highland regions where pine-oak forests dominate. Across the rest of the country, they occur in much lower densities.
Compared to the United States and southern Canada, Cooper’s hawks are generally rarer across Mexico. However, they are not considered threatened or endangered in the country. Continued habitat conservation will be important for maintaining healthy populations.
How Rare are Cooper’s Hawks Worldwide?
On a global scale, the Cooper’s hawk is considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN. Besides their range in North America, small isolated populations occur in the Bahamas, Cuba and possibly Hispaniola. However, their numbers in these regions are very small with likely less than 1,000 mature individuals inhabiting each island population.
Cooper’s hawks are not found anywhere else in the world besides these isolated Caribbean islands and their main range in North and Central America. Within the United States, southern Canada and highland regions of Mexico, Cooper’s hawk populations are secure and the species is common to fairly common in suitable habitat.
While their numbers show local fluctuations, and they are rarer along the western edge of their range, current Cooper’s hawk populations appear stable across most of their global distribution.
Conservation efforts have allowed their populations to rebound significantly since the decline caused by DDT in the mid-1900s. Ongoing habitat protection and sustainable forest management will be important in maintaining healthy Cooper’s hawk populations into the future. But the species is no longer considered globally threatened.
Conclusion
In summary, Cooper’s hawks occur only in the Americas, with the majority of the global population residing in the United States and southern Canada. While they are rarer across Mexico, the western United States, and northern parts of their range, current populations are estimated to be 700,000 to 3.5 million mature individuals globally.
Cooper’s hawks suffered declines due to pesticides and habitat loss around the mid-20th century but have rebounded in recent decades. They are now rated as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN due to their large and stable overall population. However, local conservation measures are still needed in areas where their habitat is threatened by human activities.
While Cooper’s hawks are certainly less common than species like red-tailed hawks and sharp-shinned hawks, they remain fairly widespread and secure throughout most of their range. They can be considered uncommon to rare only in a handful of U.S. states and the northernmost parts of Canada. Overall, the Cooper’s hawk continues to thrive across much of North America.