Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii) feeding while perched on a tree branch in Cotati on 18 March 2025. [You can click on the image for a larger version.]
In addition to feeding on prey, this bird happened to be quite vocal as we were walking by. The calls were not the more-often-heard cak-cak-cak variety, but instead what are sometimes described as whaaa calls, more often attributed to females.
If you're interested, I recorded a very short audio clip for the record -- see below. [If you can't see the video player in the e-mail, click on the title of the post above to find it on the NHBH web page.] The lighting isn't the best, but at the time I was more focused on trying to record the sound. You might need to turn up your volume a little bit.
Spring is on the way!
Whaaaaaaaat?!
ReplyDeleteThanks for making the call recording ... Now if only all other bird calls were as easily available :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Beth!
ReplyDeleteThat's a fun way to remember the call!
Whaaat's up, hawk?! :)
The hawk's call reminded me of whirring call that mourning doves sometimes make. That would be a slick bit of mimicry for a hawk to make, but I doubt an actual mourning dove would be as easily fooled as I might be.
ReplyDeleteWe just got a Coopers Hawk in our neighborhood, Cherry Valley Petaluma. We've had red shouldered for years and occasional red tail but the Coopers just started hanging around with it's typical call - will see if it does the call like yours.
ReplyDelete