After catching a bird or small mammal in its talons, the Cooper's hawk will sometimes fly to water to drown its prey. State - Connecticut General Statutes Sec. More knowledge is needed to determine what effect forest maturation and composition has on this species. Cooper's hawks may occasionally be seen preying on songbirds near winter bird feeders. Although this can be a traumatic experience for some feeder watchers, it is important to remember that these hawks are part of the food chain and must prey on other birds to survive.
Hawks breed less often than smaller songbirds and produce fewer young.
Since woodland nesting species such as the Cooper's hawk are often difficult to survey and monitor, any confirmed nests should be reported to the Wildlife Division to help increase our knowledge of the activities of these birds in Connecticut. The production of this Endangered and Threatened Species Fact Sheet Series is made possible by donations to the Endangered Species-Wildlife Income Tax Checkoff Fund.