Cooper's Hawk
This Cooper's Hawk is an occasional visitor at our "bird feeders" here in Eldorado at Santa Fe. The songbirds make a speedy retreat when he swoops in. He stayed for awhile on this crisp late autumn day, taking his time and preening in the warmth of the sun.
The Cooper's Hawk is a medium-sized hawk of the woodlands. Feeding mostly on birds and small mammals, it hunts by stealth, approaching its prey through dense cover and then pouncing with a rapid, powerful flight.
Nikon D500, Tamron 18-400 mm, f/3.5-6.3, Picture Control Vivid
(Click images for camera settings in the popup caption and slideshow.)
