Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

In Missouri, Cooper's Hawks nest in mature, even-aged forests with moderate canopy closure, frequently consisting of Short-leaf Pine (Pinus echinata) (Kritz 1989). According to Kritz, they tolerate human disturbance and habitat fragmentation and often nest near woodland edges, in small plantations and near human habitation. Compared with Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper's Hawks select dense forest habitats with more vertical stratification and open canopies for nesting (Kritz 1989). Apparently this species was once a widespread and common breeder in Missouri. Widmann (1907) described them as "a fairly common summer resident in all parts of the state."

Code Frequency

Cooper's Hawks are difficult to locate because of their secrecy at the nest site and their forested breeding habitat. In most blocks they were recorded as possible breeders and, although some of these records may have resulted from transient individuals, Cooper's Hawks may well have bred in many of these blocks.

Distribution

Cooper's Hawks found in the southern half the state were usually associated with oak-pine forests. North of the native pine range, the Cooper's Hawks found were associated with deciduous forests and, on two occasions, pine plantations. A grouping of reports occurred in Harrison, Grundy and Mercer counties with breeding confirmed in the latter county. Other observations in northern Missouri, in which breeding was probable or confirmed, indicated Cooper's Hawks can nest anywhere in the state where an appropriate habitat occurs. The only record from the Mississippi Lowlands was at Donaldson Point Conservation Area in New Madrid County in a floodplain forest between the levee and the Mississippi River.

Average Number of Birds / 100 stops

Phenology

The few breeding confirmations recorded during the Atlas Project provide a conservative picture of Cooper's Hawk nesting phenology. An adult observed on the nest on May 24 and a nest with young on June 2 correspond closely with the nesting events observed by Kritz (1989), who first observed Eggs: in the nest on May 15 in 1985 and May 24 in 1986.

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 80 (6.6%) of 1,207 blocks

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