Field identification tips: Accipiters such as this Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) are forest birds whose short powerful wings and long rudder-like tail provide maneuverability in dense brush where it preys on smaller birds. This species can be easily confused with the smaller but otherwise very similar Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus). Size is not a reliable way to identify this bird in the field since a small male A. cooperii can be smaller than a large female A. striatus. Look for a tubular body shape (vs. A. striatus's bulkier shoulder look), a 'fierce' gaze, graduated-length tailfeathers and a squared-off head shape. When trying to identify this bird its best not to rely on a single field mark and sometimes it simply cannot be separated from A. straitus and is best identified as Accipiter sp.