There
are sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks in
our area. What can I do to protect my
feeder birds from these
hawks?
Both the
sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks do feed
on other birds. Their short, rounded wings
and long tails allow them to dart through
trees and branches as they hunt their
prey. They are a natural part of the
environment and can be fascinating to
study. The females of both species are
larger than the males and there is some
overlap in size between the two species. A
male sharp-shined is about the size of a
blue jay while a female coopers is nearly
the size of a crow. Neither should be
confused with the much larger and more
visible red-tailed hawk which is often
seed along roadsides.
If you
observe one of these small hawks in your
yard on a regular basis and are concerned
for your feeder birds consider locating
your feeders near (or planting) dense
shrubs or evergreens that will offer cover
if a hawk approaches. In most cases the
hawks will not over-hunt your feeders as
they will loose the element of surprise if
they frequent the area too
much.
