Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Cooper’s Hawk vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk • Wikimedia Commons
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk • Wikimedia Commons
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk • Wikimedia Commons
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk • Wikimedia Commons
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk • Wikimedia Commons
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk • Wikimedia Commons
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk • Wikimedia Commons
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk • Wikimedia Commons
Cooper’s Hawk vs Sharp-shinned Hawk (Astur cooperii vs Accipiter striatus): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The hardest ID pair at the feeder. Three rules:
- Size: crow-sized = Cooper’s; jay-sized = Sharp-shinned (but male Cooper’s and female Sharpie overlap!).
- Head and nape: big head, dark cap over pale nape = Cooper’s; small head, uniform hood = Sharp-shinned.
- Tail tip: rounded with a wide white band = Cooper’s; squared with a thin tip = Sharp-shinned.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The two feeder hawks, mark by mark. KEY rows separate fastest — but no single mark is enough.
| Feature | Cooper’s Hawk | Sharp-shinned Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Astur cooperii | Accipiter striatus |
| Length KEY | 14.5–17.5 in (37–44 cm) | 9.4–13.4 in (24–34 cm) |
| Wingspan | 24–35 in (62–90 cm) | 16.9–22.1 in (43–56 cm) |
| Weight | 8–24 oz (220–680 g) | 3.1–7.7 oz (87–218 g) |
| Overall Shape | A medium accipiter built for woods hunting — short rounded wings, very long tail; females much larger than males | Small accipiter: short rounded wings, long narrow tail |
| Male Plumage KEY | Blue-gray above, rusty-barred below, dark cap over a paler nape; red eye; long tail with a wide white tip, rounded at the end | Blue-gray above, red-barred breast, yellow-orange eyes; notably smaller than the female |
| Female Plumage | Identical pattern but crow-sized — a third bigger than the male | Same pattern as the male but up to a third larger |
| Bill Shape | Small, hooked, dark — typical accipiter | Small hooked bill |
| Tail KEY | Very long, banded, with a broad white tip; looks rounded when fanned | Long, narrow, squared-off tail tip |
| Core Range | Woodland and suburbia across most of the US and southern Canada | Breeds in northern and mountain forests; winters across the US |
| Migration | Northern birds migrate; many in the south and west are resident | Short- to long-distance migrant; winter visitor to most yards |
| Feeder Presence | Visits yards to hunt birds at feeders — the “feeder hawk” itself | Hunts the feeder itself — ambushes sparrows, finches and doves |
| Favorite Foods | Medium birds — doves, jays, starlings; also small mammals | Small songbirds, almost exclusively |
| Song | Silent away from the nest | A rapid, high “kik-kik-kik” in alarm |
| Flight Call | A loud, rapid “kak-kak-kak-kak” near the nest; a single “kik” in flight | Shrill repeated kik notes |
| Population Trend | Increasing — now a regular hunter of backyard feeders | Stable; the classic winter feeder-hawk |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Cooper’s Hawk — Male
Astur cooperii
- Long rounded tail with a wide white tip; dark cap, pale nape.
- Rusty barring below on a blue-gray bird.
- Hunts with flap-flap-glide flight through the trees.
Sharp-shinned Hawk — Male
Accipiter striatus
- Blue-gray back, red-barred breast, capped look.
- Short rounded wings + long squared tail = accipiter silhouette.
- The size of a jay; females approach crow size.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Cooper’s Hawk — Female
Astur cooperii
- Crow-sized female can be mistaken for a small goshawk.
- Same cap, same rusty bars — just much bigger than the male.
- Often sits motionless in cover, watching the feeder.
Sharp-shinned Hawk — Female
Accipiter striatus
- Same plumage as the male, much larger.
- Yellow-to-orange eyes (red in older birds).
- Streaky brown juveniles hunt feeders too.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check — use three or more together:
| Body Part | Cooper’s Hawk | Sharp-shinned Hawk |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Crow-sized; female huge | Dove-to-jay-sized; female near small Cooper’s |
| Head in Flight | Projects far past the wings | Small, barely past the wrists |
| Cap and Nape | Dark cap, pale nape | Uniform dark hood |
| Tail Tip | Rounded, wide white terminal band | Squared or notched, narrow pale tip |
| Legs | Thick, sturdy | Pencil-thin |
| Adult Eye | Deep red, fierce brow | Orange-red, “bug-eyed” look |
| Breast Streaking (juvenile) | Fine streaks on a clean belly | Heavy, blurry streaks to the belly |
Song & Call Comparison
Cooper’s Hawk
Astur cooperii
Calls: a rapid kak-kak-kak series near the nest.
Behavior: usually silent; a flurry of fleeing feeder birds announces it.
Cooper’s Hawk voice • Wikimedia Commons
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
Voice: rapid high kik-kik-kik alarms near the nest or a kill.
Behavior: ambush dives from cover onto feeder birds.
Sharp-shinned Hawk voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Cooper’s Hawk breeds in woodland and suburbia across most of the US and southern Canada; northern birds migrate, many are resident.
The Sharp-shinned Hawk breeds in northern and mountain forest and winters across the US — the Sharpie at your feeder is most likely a winter visitor.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Both species hunt bird feeders — a sudden explosion of scattering birds is the announcement.
- Cooper’s: takes doves, jays and starlings; can clear a feeder of pigeons.
- Sharp-shinned: specializes in small birds — goldfinches, sparrows and chickadees.
- If you feed birds, you feed hawks — a pause in feeding for a few days moves a resident hawk along.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Cooper’s Hawks hunt with flap-flap-glide through trees and will chase prey into shrubs on foot.
Sharp-shinned Hawks are dash-and-grab hunters, flicking through the yard at feeder height and gone in seconds.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Size. Crow = Cooper’s; dove/jay = Sharp-shinned.
- Head. Big projecting head = Cooper’s; tiny = Sharp-shinned.
- Nape. Pale nape with dark cap = Cooper’s; uniform hood = Sharp-shinned.
- Tail. Rounded, wide white tip = Cooper’s; square, thin tip = Sharp-shinned.
- Legs. Thick = Cooper’s; pencil-thin = Sharp-shinned.
- Prey. Dove-sized = Cooper’s; finch-sized = Sharp-shinned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Cooper’s from a Sharp-shinned Hawk?
Cooper’s are crow-sized with a big projecting head, pale nape, thick legs and a rounded tail with a wide white tip. Sharp-shinneds are jay-sized with a small head, uniform hood, pencil legs and a square tail.
What is the hardest part of this ID?
Size overlap — a male Cooper’s can be smaller than a female Sharp-shinned. Always use several marks together.
Which hawk eats birds at my feeder?
Both. Cooper’s takes dove-sized birds; Sharp-shinneds take finches and sparrows. Both are protected native raptors.
What does “flap-flap-glide” mean?
The classic accipiter flight style — a few quick wingbeats, then a glide — shared by both species.
When are Sharp-shinned Hawks most common at feeders?
In winter and during fall migration, when they leave their northern breeding forests.
Should I stop feeding birds if a hawk visits?
You can pause feeding for a few days — the hawk usually moves on. Remember, a hawk at your feeder means a healthy yard ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
- Size: Crow = Cooper’s; jay = Sharp-shinned.
- Head: Big projecting head = Cooper’s.
- Nape: Pale nape = Cooper’s; hood = Sharp-shinned.
- Tail: Rounded + wide white tip = Cooper’s.
- Legs: Thick = Cooper’s; pencil = Sharp-shinned.
- Rule: Never trust one mark alone.