Coopers hawks are very common in Belmont neighborhoods. They live and hunt near homes, often building their nests in tall poplars and oaks just feet from a busy household. They have a shrill, one-note call and it is persistent during the mating season, although it is heard any time of the year. I often see them hunting from the tall pecan tree in my backyard or chasing small birds through the dense hedge of Leyland Cypress on my neighbors property. From the Wikipedia article: These birds capture prey from cover or while flying quickly through dense vegetation, relying almost totally on surprise. One study showed that this is a quite dangerous hunting style. More than 300 Coopers hawk skeletons were investigated and 23% revealed healed fractures in the bones of the chest. Coopers hawks prey almost exclusively on small to mid-sized birds. .... They also hunt songbirds at backyard feeders, perching nearby then swooping down and scattering the birds to single one out in flight. Today when coming home in my car, there was a mated pair in my neighbors front yard. I was able to shoot this video from the dash of my car. There is one hawk in the center of the picture perched in a cherry tree. His mate is on the ground under an oak tree in the background. The first hawk flies to the oak tree and perches above his mate. Be alert for Coopers hawks and I bet you will soon see and hear them close to your house.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 20:20:36 +0000