RaptorPhoto Bird of Prey Photography: Cooper's Hawk

Cooper's Hawk Locations

Accipiterii Coperii

Cooper's Hawks are fairly common in Southeastern Arizona, and are pretty easy to find year-round. They prefer dense tree coverage, and can be found nesting deep within city limits. If you are in Tucson, and you want to find a Cooper's Hawk, just go to Silverbell Lake in Christopher Columbus Park. [Take Grant West of I-10 to Silverbell, North on Silverbell about 2 miles, entrance is on the right]. When you enter Christopher Columbus Park, the street will fork. Take the right fork, and you will come out next to a large grass model airplane track. 90% of the time, an adult female Cooper's hawk is roosting in one of the evergreens on the short bluff east of this field. Examine the trees carefully, but be quiet and please do not disturb the hawk! She is usually so well concealed that Mourning Doves, Vermillion Flycatchers, Black Phoebes and other potential prey stay nearby. If she bails her roost because you got too close, it ends up sending a ball of confused, panicked birds into the air.

If you can't find her here, try the tall Eucalyptus trees on the East side of the Lake. As a last resort, scan the rails along the Santa Cruz river just east of the lake. During this hunt, you may find Great Blue Herons, Belted Kingfishers, Great Egrets, Green Egrets, Red-Tailed Hawks, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons. All of these birds we regularly find at Silverbell Lake. In addition, this is the only location in the Tucson valley we have seen a Bald Eagle!