Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Coop

Accipiter cooperiiA Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) in Green-Wood on Saturday. Accipiter cooperiiThis is an immature bird. An adult will have a russet-tinted breast and red eyes instead of yellow. Accipiter cooperiiFrom the back, against the light. Note that long tail, a characteristic of the Accipiters. Accipiter cooperiiWhile perched, the bird threw up this pellet. Once she — the bird seemed so large I think it was female — flew off after the usual business with screaming Blue Jays, I scanned the ground below her. Owls are famous for their pellets — I have some in my freezer, long story — but all raptors and some other birds, like gulls, spit them up; they’re just not as famous, substantial, or long-lasting as owl pellets.

3 responses to “Coop”

  1. Wonderful capture, awesome bird , well done !

  2. […] usually see immature Cooper’s Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) around the borough. Over the weekend, though, I saw this […]

  3. […] resident in the city, preferring forests and forest edges. Their larger genus-mates the Cooper’s Hawk is more likely to be found in the city and suburbs. You will notice that both this bird and the […]

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