Along with its preference for thick cover, this species' swift flight and rather non-descript markings make sighting and identifying this diminuitive bird of prey a bit difficult. Those fortunate enough to see a Cooper's hawk are quickly taken with its low-key elegance and understated displays of power. Its distinguishing characteristics include a large head, long tail and short, rounded wings. The tail is striped on top with brown and gray, and underneath with gray and cream. Perhaps this bird's most identifiable marking is its white-tipped tail feathers.
Females are larger than males, but adults of both sexes are known for their ruby red eyes.
In flight, the Cooper's hawk resembles the closely related sharp-shinned hawk. Both fly straight and fast, and their flight pattern is characterized by strong wing strokes and short glides. Unlike the Cooper's hawk, however, the tail of the sharp-shinned hawk is shorter and more squared at the very end, and it also has a black tip. The Cooper's hawk's longer tail gives it great agility for hunting small birds and mammals in the restricted confines of its woodland home. This environment requires quick braking, tight turns and quick climbs, and the Cooper's hawk is perfectly designed for such deft maneuvering.