This secretive breeder is found across the southern-most parts of Canada's forests and woodlots, and throughout the United States. Results from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest that the population has increased moderately since about 1970. Although once designated by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as Special Concern, it was re-assessed as Not at Risk in 1996. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
The species declined markedly through the mid-1900s due to the use of organochlorine pesticides, as well as from trapping and shooting (Curtis et al. 2006). With the reduction of these threats in the latter half of the century and the species' ability to exploit human-altered landscapes, the Cooper's Hawk population has recovered and is currently thriving (Curtis et al. 2006), though at low densities. Once considered a scarce and local breeder in Ontario, the species is now widespread throughout southern parts of the province (Gahbauer 2007a).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
