Cooper's Hawk Calls: The 3 sounds these backyard predators make! (2025)

You are going to learn how to identify the CALLS and SOUNDS of a Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii).

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During most of the year, Cooper’s Hawks are silent. But during the breeding season, they become quite vocal! It's common to hear them in residential areas since they are commonly seen near bird feeders hunting birds.

HERE ARE THE 3 COMMON SOUNDS THAT THESE BIRDS OF PREY MAKE:

00:13 SOUND #1: “kac-kac-kac"

Their most common sound is a loud, piercing “kac-kac-kac" call. Both sexes make this sound during courtship and when defending the nest. In general, males sound less raspy, higher pitched, and faster-paced than females, but this isn’t always true.

00:37 SOUND #2: “kik”

The second call Cooper’s Hawks make is a loud, single note “kik.” The “kik” call is mostly used by males when displaying or bringing food to the nest. Females may use it when looking for the male.

01:01 SOUND #3: “whaaa”

Lastly, females may be heard giving a “whaaa” call. This noise is typically heard when the male appears with food at the nest.

SIMILAR SOUNDS:

The call of a Cooper’s Hawk is sometimes confused with a Sharp Shinned Hawk. If you listen closely, a Sharp Shinned Hawk (kik-kik-kik) will sound higher pitched. You can listen to a Sharp-shinned Hawk here to compare: https://youtu.be/woW2b-uSiMg

Credit for the recordings:
Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Recordists: Andrew Spencer, Paul Fenwick, Spencer Follett

Images used under license from Shutterstock.com.