Like all accipiters, its short wings and long tail enable it to move quickly. Their habitat is deciduous woodland areas, but they can also be found in urban areas and near farms. Cooper's hawks nest high in the middle of a deciduous tree, where the female will lay two to five eggs. Sometimes an aggressive and reckless hunter, these hawks eat birds and mammals such as squirrels and chipmunks. The largest of the accipiters is the reclusive goshawk .
Young goshawks have white eyes and brown plumage.
Halfway through their first molt, they sport brown and gray plumage. Adults have completely red eyes and striking white eyebrows. Goshawks can be found in the western United States and Canada, where they make thick forests their home. They nest high in woodland trees, where the female will lay two to five eggs. Adults are extremely protective and attack any intruders in their nesting territory, including humans.