A Coopers Hawk Stops by for a Visit

Here's the deal. This is supposed to be a Frog Blog but it's winter and in this neck of the woods all the frogs are sleeping very soundly, no doubt dreaming about eating birds. So when something a bit different happens in the back yard I decided I should add it to the blog if for no other reason than to keep the blog active. Nuff said... I'm writing a short story.

You will be surprised to find that pictured is a Coopers Hawk!  Not surprised?  I understand.  The picture is not the hawk that visited our yard this morning.  The picture is one I found on the Internet. 

I googled "Coopers Hawk" and found the bird to be pretty interesting.  Here are a few facts about "Coop."

• Their main food source is small birds up to the size of a dove.  They also eat most small mammals like chipmunks, squirrels, snakes and can you believe FROGS! 
• They will chase down a bird on the ground as well as attack from the air.
• The will "stake out" bird feeders.  How's that for being adaptable.  When birds gather at the feeder the hawk will scatter the birds and then try to take one in the air.
• About a fourth of the hawks have healed fractures of the wishbone believed to be caused primarily by crashing into stuff while pursuing prey in flight through thick vegetation or on a ground chase.  A bit intense don'tyaknow.
• They don't kill their prey with their beak (like falcons) but repeatedly squeeze it until it dies or, get this, hold the prey under water until it quits moving.  A lot like drowning!  They will pluck the feathers or fur from it's prey before eating.

We have not noticed any Coopers Hawks around our yard any except one other time a few weeks ago. While that certainly doesn't mean they haven't stopped in for a snack they haven't taken up residence either.  We're thinking they may be migrating.  According to what I've read, however, they are known to stay year-round in most of the US.  Possibly it could be that other birds have migrated and they are drawn to our bird feeder because of slim pick'ns in their previous range.  Your guess is as good as mine but it sounds reasonable.

Today's bird was pretty small so we think it was a juvenile.  It had the coloring of a juvenile.  This is probably its first winter.  It's legs and toes were a nice yellow color and by using the binoculars you could see it's dark talons clearly.  I was impressed.

The backyard has been very empty.  I filled the bird feeder yesterday morning and it still had food this afternoon so this guy must have been in the area for a day or two.  The birds did return to the feeder late this afternoon.  No hawks in sight.