Missouri Department of Conservation

Uncommon migrant statewide, foraging for birds in hedgerows, along tree lines and occasionally at bird feeders. Rare summer resident statewide except possibly absent as a breeder in the unforested areas in the Mississippi Lowlands. Has short, rounded wing and a long, rounded-tipped tail usually with a wide white terminal band. Adults have blue-gray above, rusty horizontal barring below. The head is large, appearing longer in flight than the head of a sharp-shinned hawk; crown color is darker than back. Frequently misidentified as an immature Northern goshawk, which have thin brown streaks on the under tail coverts that are lacking in Cooper’s hawks. In flight, the Cooper’s hawks alternate flapping and sailing and have a steadier flight than that of sharp-shinned hawks.