Coopers Hawk
The vertical streaking on the breast and the yellow eyes indicate this is an immature. Yellow eyes in most hawks indicate immaturity. Orange or red eyes and a horizontal striped breast indicate a mature Coopers Hawk.
Coopers Hawks are attracted to bird feeders, but they are not there for the seeds!
If a hawk is nearby most of the feeder birds vanish or freeze in place hoping not to be noticed. These agile, reckless predators fly in low and hope to catch a flock of birds by surprise. Occasionally they are successful and all you will see is an explosion of feathers as the talons grab hold.
(some photos may be disturbing to the faint hearted)
This mature hawk ends his hunt by squeezing his prey, and although you will feel pity for the bird that is about to become lunch, you might want to give a thought to the hawk, too. He faces danger each time he attacks. One of his biggest enemies is trees. He hits branches as he hurtles through the trees on his chase that often result in broken bones.
Birds of prey can only eat other animals to survive. They cannot, like we humans, get their protein from vegetable sources.
Coopers Hawks can live up to 12 years but their daredevil lifestyle usually doesn't allow for long lives.
If an immature hawk does not learn how fly and catch enough food to sustain it during the summer when food is plentiful, it is sure to perish from starvation during the winter.
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