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Location: Point Loma, CA
Date: 2007-06-02
Lens: Canon 600mm IS F4 + 1.4x II Converter

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Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii


Description

Like its smaller counterpart, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, this bird mainly preys on other birds, but also feeds on lizards, snakes, and small mammals. It can and will relentlessly pursue its prey, even through wooded regions.



Appearance

Blue-gray upperparts and crown. White neck and underparts. Rust-brown barring on lower chest and leg feathers. Short rounded wings. Long tail. Red eye. Yellow legs. Yellow bill with black tip. 14 to 20 inches in length.



Habitat

Deciduous forests, especially those with meadows and clearings.



Nesting

4-6 gray or blue-green eggs, laid at 2 day intervals, with a 32-36 day incubation period. Fledging occurs 27-34 days after hatching. The nest is a large mud mound lined with feathers and down. The nest is constructed around March-May and is usually found near a lake, pond, or marsh edge.






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