The Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized bird of prey that has adapted to a variety of habitats, ranging from dense woodlands to urban and suburban areas. This raptor’s increasing visibility in backyards and parks has led to public interest in its hunting habits and diet. The hawk’s presence in environments shared with small mammals raises questions about its predatory relationship with species like squirrels. Examining the hawk’s biology and behavior helps clarify the specific role squirrels play in the overall nutrition of this agile hunter.
Squirrels as Part of the Cooper’s Hawk Diet
The answer to whether Cooper’s Hawks eat squirrels is yes, they do include them in their diet. Squirrels, along with chipmunks and mice, are documented prey items and form a portion of the hawk’s carnivorous intake of small mammals. However, the successful predation of a squirrel is often a complex and risky endeavor for the hawk.
Large, mature tree squirrels, such as the Eastern Gray Squirrel, can weigh between 400 to 600 grams. This is a substantial size for a male Cooper’s Hawk, whose average weight can be as low as 280 to 410 grams. The size and agility of a full-grown squirrel, coupled with its powerful teeth and sharp claws, make it a difficult target that can potentially injure the raptor.
Hawks more frequently target smaller sciurids, such as chipmunks or ground squirrels, or focus on juvenile squirrels. Predation on squirrels tends to occur opportunistically, often when preferred avian prey is scarce. Larger females, which can be up to 35% heavier than males, are capable of subduing larger quarry. Squirrels are a supplementary food source rather than a primary dietary staple for the Cooper’s Hawk.
Specialized Hunting Tactics of the Cooper’s Hawk
The Cooper’s Hawk possesses a physical structure that facilitates its hunting in dense environments. Its body shape, known as accipiter morphology, features short, rounded wings and a long, rudder-like tail. This combination grants the hawk exceptional maneuverability, allowing it to navigate through the tight spaces and complex obstacles of forests and backyard trees.
The primary hunting method employed by this raptor is the ambush, relying on stealth and surprise. The hawk often perches inconspicuously within dense foliage, scanning for movement. Once prey is sighted, the hawk launches a sudden, explosive burst of flight, using its long tail to make sharp turns around branches and trunks.
This agility allows the hawk to pursue prey like squirrels through the canopy or along the ground. By approaching from behind cover or using a rapid stoop, the Cooper’s Hawk aims to surprise the squirrel before it can retreat to the safety of a tree cavity. The ability to effectively hunt in such cover is essential for capturing agile prey in their natural habitat.
Primary Components of the Cooper’s Hawk Diet
While squirrels are a prey item, Cooper’s Hawks are primarily avivores, meaning their diet largely consists of other birds. This specialization is evident in their hunting style, which is suited to capturing fast-moving avian targets. The majority of their meals come from medium-sized songbirds, often taken around backyard bird feeders or in wooded areas.
These birds represent a more consistently available and easier-to-capture food source than squirrels. Studies show that birds form the bulk of the Cooper’s Hawk’s diet throughout the year. Common avian prey includes:
- Mourning Doves
- European Starlings
- American Robins
- Blue Jays
Small mammals, including mice, voles, chipmunks, and occasionally bats, are secondary prey items that supplement the bird-heavy diet. The inclusion of squirrels is a function of the hawk’s opportunistic feeding strategy, particularly when local bird populations are low or when a vulnerable squirrel presents an easy target.