Chicken hawks, also known as Cooper’s hawks, are medium-sized hawks that are native to North America. They are adept hunters and their diet consists mainly of small birds and mammals. Chicken hawks are a common backyard bird across much of the United States and Canada. Their name comes from the fact that they will sometimes prey on domestic poultry.
Chicken hawks are stocky, round-headed hawks that have a size range of 14 to 20 inches (35-51 cm) in length and weigh around 1 pound on average. Their wingspan ranges from 24 to 35 inches (61-89 cm). Males and females have similar plumage but females are noticeably larger than males.
How Big Do Chicken Hawks Get?
Here is a breakdown of the typical size statistics for chicken hawks:
Length
– Total length: 14-20 inches
– Males: 14-17 inches
– Females: 16-20 inches
The total length of chicken hawks, measured from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail, ranges from 14 to 20 inches. Males tend to be on the smaller end, averaging 14-17 inches long. Females are larger, averaging 16-20 inches in total length.
Wingspan
– Males: 24-30 inches
– Females: 28-35 inches
Male chicken hawks have a wingspan ranging from 24-30 inches. Female chicken hawks have a larger wingspan of 28-35 inches across.
Weight
– Males: 7-14 oz (198-397 g)
– Females: 14-21 oz (397-595 g)
The average weight of male chicken hawks is about 7-14 oz. Females are noticeably heavier, weighing 14-21 oz on average.
Gender | Length | Wingspan | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
Males | 14-17 in | 24-30 in | 7-14 oz |
Females | 16-20 in | 28-35 in | 14-21 oz |
This table summarizes the typical size dimensions of male and female chicken hawks by length, wingspan, and weight. As shown, female chicken hawks are noticeably larger than males.
Chicken Hawk Size Compared to Other Hawks
To better understand just how big chicken hawks are, it helps to compare their size to some other common hawk species:
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
The sharp-shinned hawk is a small hawk species that is similar in size to male chicken hawks. Sharp-shinneds range from 11-13 inches in length with a wingspan of 20-27 inches. They weigh 4-8 oz. Overall, sharp-shinned hawks are smaller and more compact than chicken hawks.
Cooper’s Hawk
The Cooper’s hawk used to be considered a subspecies of the chicken hawk but is now recognized as its own distinct species. However, Cooper’s hawks and chicken hawks are very close in size. Total length ranges from 15-20 inches, wingspan from 28-35 inches, and weight from 7-25 oz. The two species are difficult to distinguish size-wise.
Red-Tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk is a common, larger hawk species. Red-tailed hawks measure 19-25 inches long with a wingspan of 44-52 inches. They weigh 24-45 oz. Red-tailed hawks are noticeably larger than chicken hawks.
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Slightly smaller than red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks measure 16-24 inches in length with a 38-42 inch wingspan. They weigh up to 27 oz. Red-shouldered hawks are also distinctly larger than chicken hawks.
To summarize, chicken hawks are medium-sized hawks – smaller than red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks but larger than sharp-shinned hawks. Their size overlaps with the similar Cooper’s hawk.
Male vs Female Chicken Hawks
As mentioned previously, female chicken hawks are distinctly larger than males. Here’s a more in-depth look at the size differences:
Length
Females are around 2-5 inches longer than males on average. Female chicken hawks range from 16-20 inches long compared to 14-17 inches for males.
Wingspan
The wingspan difference ranges from around 4-7 inches. Males have a wingspan of 24-30 inches while females have a wingspan of 28-35 inches.
Weight
Females are nearly twice as heavy as males. Male chicken hawks weigh 7-14 oz compared to 14-21 oz for females.
Plumage
Male and female chicken hawks have similar color patterns. However, the plumage of females is often darker and more well-defined compared to males. Males have lighter, blurrier barring on the chest and belly.
Attribute | Males | Females |
---|---|---|
Length | 14-17 in | 16-20 in |
Wingspan | 24-30 in | 28-35 in |
Weight | 7-14 oz | 14-21 oz |
Plumage | Lighter, blurry barring | Darker, well-defined barring |
This table summarizes the key physical differences between male and female chicken hawks. The considerable size dimorphism helps observers distinguish between the two sexes.
Do Chicken Hawks Grow Continuously?
Chicken hawks reach their full adult size by one year old. They do not continue growing significantly after their first year.
However, their weight may fluctuate seasonally throughout each year. During winter months when prey is scarce, chicken hawks may lose weight and appear slimmer. When food is abundant, they add fat reserves and appear bulkier. But their baseline size remains consistent in adulthood.
The growth pattern for chicken hawks is:
Hatchlings
Newly hatched chicken hawks are quite small, weighing just 1.5-2 oz. Their bodies are covered in white downy feathers. They grow rapidly in the first few weeks.
Fledglings
Around one month old, chicken hawks leave the nest as fledglings. Fledglings are about 70% of adult size with a mix of downy feathers and juvenile plumage. They can fly short distances and are reliant on parents for food.
Juveniles
From 2 months to 1 year old, chicken hawks are considered juveniles. They reach nearly full adult size but their plumage is duller with lots of brown streaks. Juveniles hunt for themselves but may still beg parents for food occasionally.
Adults
After one year old, chicken hawks are full grown adults. Their plumage is brightly colored and well-defined. Adults do not grow significantly after reaching maturity. Their weight may fluctuate seasonally but their baseline size remains the same year after year.
So in summary, chicken hawks are considered fully grown after one year old. They do not continue growing noticeably as adults. Their defining size characteristics like length, wingspan, and overall bulk stay constant once maturity is reached. Weight may vary but not their overall dimensions.
Typical Wingspan of a Full Grown Chicken Hawk
A full grown adult chicken hawk has a wingspan ranging from:
– Males: 24-30 inches
– Females: 28-35 inches
These wingspan lengths are reached by one year old once the hawk is fully mature. The broad, rounded wings allow chicken hawks to maneuver nimbly when hunting. The proportionately longer, wider wings of females aids their flight agility when pursuing prey.
To summarize:
Sex | Typical Wingspan |
---|---|
Male | 24-30 inches |
Female | 28-35 inches |
A full grown adult chicken hawk of either sex will have a wingspan within these ranges once it reaches maturity after one year old. The wingspan does not increase significantly after that point.
Weight Range of Adult Chicken Hawks
The typical weight range for full grown adult chicken hawks is:
– Males: 7-14 oz
– Females: 14-21 oz
These weight ranges represent an adult chicken hawk that has reached maturity and is not growing significantly larger.
As mentioned previously, the weight may fluctuate up and down throughout the year as fat stores increase and decrease. But the overall weight range remains consistent once the hawk is adult size after one year old.
To summarize:
Sex | Typical Adult Weight Range |
---|---|
Male | 7-14 oz |
Female | 14-21 oz |
The weight ranges listed apply to full grown chicken hawks that have completed growth by one year old. These baseline weight ranges remain steady once maturity is reached.
Conclusion
In summary, chicken hawks are medium-sized hawks that reach their full adult dimensions around one year old. Adults range from 14-20 inches long with a 24-35 inch wingspan. Males weigh 7-14 oz on average and females weigh 14-21 oz.
Females are noticeably larger than males. However, neither sex grows significantly after maturity. Their wingspans and weights may fluctuate but remain within consistent baseline ranges throughout adulthood. Understanding the typical size ranges helps observers identify and appreciate these raptors.