Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) in Dana Point, California. December 2015. Not baited. Not called in.

Notoriously difficult to distinguish from the Sharp-shinned Hawk that I have also seen for the first time that same day, the beautiful Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a larger raptor breeding from Canada to Northern Mexico. It has a relatively large head and long tail. On this picture you can see a juvenile Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) that I spotted near a Golf course in Dana Point, California, on my way to the beach. It was resting on this tree, right on the path for pedestrians, and did not seem to bother at all having many people passing by so close. I could not believe it! I literally could have stayed hours watching it :)

Love Nature.
Jonathan