One banding record indicates over 7 years.
Adults have blue-gray backs and rusty barring on their underparts.
A blackish crown contrasts strongly with the back. Immature Cooper's hawks have whitish or buffy underparts with fine dark streaking restricted to the chest. The rounded tail appears disproportionately long. It is crossed with four or more obscure black bars and has a broad, distinctly white tip. The sexes are similar in appearance, but the female is larger in size.