Cooper's Hawk vs Sharp-shinned Hawk
Which hawk is raiding the bird feeder?
The quick tell
Forget size first - a big female Sharp-shinned overlaps a small male Cooper’s. Look at the head and tail instead. Cooper’s: a big head that juts well ahead of the wings, a dark cap contrasting with a pale nape, and a rounded tail tip with a wide white band. Sharp-shinned: a small, tucked-in head with a full dark hood, pencil-thin legs, and a squared-off tail tip.
Field marks, side by side
| Cooper's Hawk | Sharp-shinned Hawk | |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Large, projects far past the wing line; capped look | Small, barely clears the wrists; hooded look |
| Tail tip | Rounded, broad white terminal band | Square or notched, thin pale tip |
| Legs | Stout | Famously thin - "sharp shins" |
| Flight | Stiff, deliberate flap-flap-glide | Quicker, flickery wingbeats |
Still not sure which one you found?
Point Huck at it. One photo identifies it on the spot - and adds it to your collection.
Get Huck - freeCommon questions
A hawk killed a bird at my feeder - which was it?
Both accipiters specialize in songbirds and both hunt feeders. Suburban feeder ambushes are increasingly Cooper’s Hawks, which have adapted to towns; Sharp-shinned are a bit more woodland-bound. Check the head projection and tail tip on your photo.
Should I take my feeder down when a hawk shows up?
A one-week pause disperses the songbirds and usually moves the hawk along. It is also normal predation - an accipiter at the feeder is native wildlife doing exactly what it evolved to do.