A couple weeks ago, a Cooper’s hawk visited my yard for two hours. She perched atop a snag for a long time grooming herself.
I’m guessing this was a female because it was a big bird with orange eyes. Females are larger in size than males. Cooper’s hawk eyes can be yellow, orange, or red. Mature males have deep red eyes but few females do.
Here are a few photos of her close up.
And here are a few photos from a little bit farther away. She was trimming her talons and flipping her head around to groom hard to reach places.
When this Cooper’s hawk visited my yard, I couldn’t stop watching her. She was so entertaining!
While this hawk was in my backyard, there was not a single songbird in sight. We don’t have bird feeders, but the songbirds flock to our water feature. The hawks have figured out it’s a fly through fast food restaurant.
These images aren’t in perfect focus but they make a funny GIF. See her yawning and tapping a foot?
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How wonderful! I'd love to have such a visitor.
Thanks! I really like watching them.
Wow, what a cool post! We have those birds here. They are beautiful. I love your GIF!! 🤎🤎
Thanks, Lisa! I took more pictures of her while she stood in a small creek for 40 minutes. I'll save those for another day. 🙂
Looks like it wearing a cape.
Yeah, she was really fluffed up.
That is awesome...what a treat to be able to watch one for so long. One has been terrorizing the birds at our feeders and has taken a couple down in the woods, but I have had only quick glimpses.
Thanks! There was not a single songbird in our yard while she was there. I think she may have taken a flicker (and who knows what else).
She really is a most impressive bird - just look at those talons!
Yes, she was! I couldn't tear myself away to do anything else while she was there.
Fabulous..looks like she is wearing a cape
LoL
Thanks! She spent a long time arranging her "cape" to make sure it looked just right.
We have one of these beautiful birds who resides in a nearby tree and uses the bird feeders in our backyard as a buffet. The smaller birds hide in the hedges around the feeders but she just goes in after them. But, judging from the piles of feathers, doves caught in the open are her favorite snack.
Yes, we have a backyard buffet too. I saw a Cooper's hawk take a dove right outside our sliding glass door. They have figured out where to go for an easy meal.
Wow, Siobhan, what a beautiful hawk and such amazing images of her contortions! Made my day, thanks for hopping in to Sunday Stills this week!
Thanks, Terri! She was a beauty. :D
What a beautiful bird. So kind of him to pose for you
Yes, I couldn't believe how long it stayed in our yard. A great opportunity for picture taking. 📸
What a treat! Great preening shots there, Siobhan. Guess we could put her with my male from this week and we would have baby Coopers. LOL! I love your GIF too. Quite entertaining! Looking forward to seeing the other photos at some point. :)
Thanks, Lisa! Cross country matchmaking? Sounds good! 😄
LOL! East meets the West. :)